BACKGROUND: Recently, cases of chronic hepatitis were linked to the presence of genomic sequences of a newly described RNA virus termed hepatitis G virus (HGV) and belonging to the Flaviviridae family. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The presence of HGV RNA was searched for by polymerase chain reaction in a population of blood donors and in patients who had received multiple blood component transfusions and/or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions. RESULTS: Twenty-one (4.2%) of 500 donors were positive for HGV RNA as were 21 (10.7%) of 196 nonimmunosuppressed patients who had received multiple transfusions of packed red cells, 4 (8.7%) of 46 common variable immune deficiency (CVID) patients who had received only IVIG, and 22 (24.7%) of 89 bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients who had received IVIG and cellular components. The proportion of HGV-positive individuals was significantly higher in the immunosuppressed recipients (CVID and BMT patients) than in the nonimmunosuppressed patients who were multiply transfused with packed red cells (p < 0.03). The proportion of HGV-positive individuals was significantly higher in the BMT patients who had received IVIG and cellular components than in the CVID patients who had received IVIG only (p < 0.03). Eight (17.0%) of the 47 HGV-positive recipients and 48 (16.9%) of the 284 HGV-negative recipients had a serum alanine aminotransferase level higher than the upper limit of normal (nonsignificant difference). The medical history of HGV-positive donors failed to reveal a particular at-risk event. The large majority of HGV-infected patients had a normal serum alanine aminotransferase level, and the proportion of patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase was the same in HGV-positive and in HGV-negative recipients. CONCLUSION: The pathological significance of HGV infection remains unelucidated, and the classification of HGV as a new hepatitis virus was perhaps premature.
BACKGROUND: Recently, cases of chronic hepatitis were linked to the presence of genomic sequences of a newly described RNA virus termed hepatitis G virus (HGV) and belonging to the Flaviviridae family. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The presence of HGV RNA was searched for by polymerase chain reaction in a population of blood donors and in patients who had received multiple blood component transfusions and/or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions. RESULTS: Twenty-one (4.2%) of 500 donors were positive for HGV RNA as were 21 (10.7%) of 196 nonimmunosuppressed patients who had received multiple transfusions of packed red cells, 4 (8.7%) of 46 common variable immune deficiency (CVID) patients who had received only IVIG, and 22 (24.7%) of 89 bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients who had received IVIG and cellular components. The proportion of HGV-positive individuals was significantly higher in the immunosuppressed recipients (CVID and BMT patients) than in the nonimmunosuppressed patients who were multiply transfused with packed red cells (p < 0.03). The proportion of HGV-positive individuals was significantly higher in the BMT patients who had received IVIG and cellular components than in the CVIDpatients who had received IVIG only (p < 0.03). Eight (17.0%) of the 47 HGV-positive recipients and 48 (16.9%) of the 284 HGV-negative recipients had a serum alanine aminotransferase level higher than the upper limit of normal (nonsignificant difference). The medical history of HGV-positive donors failed to reveal a particular at-risk event. The large majority of HGV-infectedpatients had a normal serum alanine aminotransferase level, and the proportion of patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase was the same in HGV-positive and in HGV-negative recipients. CONCLUSION: The pathological significance of HGV infection remains unelucidated, and the classification of HGV as a new hepatitis virus was perhaps premature.
Authors: Farnaz Vahidnia; M Petersen; G Rutherford; M Busch; S Assmann; J T Stapleton; B Custer Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: M Bogard; C Buffet-Janvresse; J F Cantaloube; P Biagini; G Duverlie; S Castelain; J Izopet; M Dubois; C Defer; I Lepot; J Coste; P Marcellin; M Martinot-Peignoux; P Halfon; V Gerolami; L Frangeul; J M Pawlotsky; F Roudot-Thoraval; E Dussaix; P Loiseau; N Ravera; P Lewin; J Lamoril; J Lerable; P Lebon Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 1997-12 Impact factor: 5.948