Identification of GBV-C hepatitis G RNA in chronic hepatitis C patients

✍ Scribed by Schleicher, Sabine; Chaves, Ricardo L.; Dehmer, Thomas; Gregor, Michael; Hess, Georg; Flehmig, Bertram

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 347 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199609)50:1<71::aid-jmv12>3.0.co;2-0

✦ Synopsis

Sera from patients with chronic hepatitis C were examined for the presence of GBV-C/HGV RNA by RT-PCR. The amplified products, derived from the 5' non-coding, NS3, and NS5a regions, were detected in 19 (19%) of the 100 HCV RNA-positive samples. Analysis of GBV-C/HGV prevalence rates revealed that dual infections are related to shared parenteral risk factors. Intravenous drug abuse and multiple transfusions were the factors clearly associated with a simultaneous HCV and GBV-C/HGV infection. Apart from this, patients with dual infections had a statistically significant lower mean age compared to those patients infected solely by HCV. Determination of HCV genotypes involved in GBV-C/HGV coinfection by RFLP analysis showed no correlation between the presence of GBV-CIHGV and a distinct HCV genotype. The study demonstrates that, based on t h e assessment of risk criteria, GBV-C/HGV is transmitted efficiently parenterally and is frequently linked to hepatitis C coinfection, regardless of HCV genotype. o