Prevalence of GBV-C/hepatitis G virus RNA and E2 antibody among subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 after parenteral or sexual exposure

✍ Scribed by Bourlet, Thomas; Guglielminotti, Claire; Evrard, Marie; Berthelot, Philippe; Grattard, Florence; Fr�sard, Anne; Lucht, Fr�d�ric R.; Pozzetto, Bruno

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 87 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199908)58:4<373::aid-jmv9>3.0.co;2-1

✦ Synopsis

GB virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G virus (HGV) is transmitted by the parenteral route but the importance of sexual transmission needs to be ascertained. GBV-C/HGV infections were investigated using RNA and E2-antibody detection methods in 80 subjects infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) divided into 4 groups of 20 individuals each according to their main risk factor for HIV-1 infection: blood product recipients (group 1), intravenous drug users (group 2), homosexuals (group 3), or heterosexual exposure (group 4). The overall prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection was 66.3%. No significant difference was observed in GBV-C/ HGV prevalence among the four groups: 75, 75, 55, and 60% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, used as a control for parenteral exposure, were found in 70% and 90% of the subjects in groups 1 and 2 versus only 15% and 20% of the subjects in groups 3 and 4, respectively (P < .001). Similarly, coinfections with GBV-C/HGV and HCV were significantly associated with the parenteral route (P < .001). These data emphasized the usefulness of combining the detection of RNA and the E2 antibody to determine the actual prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection. The high prevalence of the GBV-C/HGV markers among the HIV-1infected subjects, especially those with sexual exposure, provides additional evidence that this route of transmission plays a key role in the epidemiology of GBV-C/HGV. The potential influence of GBV-C/HGV infection on the course of HIV-1 disease needs further evaluation.