R C Dickson1, K P Qian, J Y Lau. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection in liver transplant recipients transplanted for non-hepatitis C virus indications, 44 patients transplanted for cryptogenic, autoimmune, hepatitis B, or cholestatic liver disease and 91 non-liver transplantation (LT) patients with similar diagnoses seen in the same study period (control group) were studied. METHODS: HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with primers from the 5'-untranslated region. RESULTS: GBV-C/HGV RNA was commonly detected in post-LT patients compared with the control group (28/44 [64%] vs. 13/91 [14%]; P<0.001). GBV-C/HGV infection was not related to the number of blood products transfused, a particular surgeon, or a specific liver disease. GBV-C/HGV infection also had no significant impact on the post-LT clinical profile. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that GBV-C/HGV infection is very common in LT recipients, but that it has minimal clinical impact in this population.
BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection in liver transplant recipients transplanted for non-hepatitis C virus indications, 44 patients transplanted for cryptogenic, autoimmune, hepatitis B, or cholestatic liver disease and 91 non-liver transplantation (LT) patients with similar diagnoses seen in the same study period (control group) were studied. METHODS: HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with primers from the 5'-untranslated region. RESULTS:GBV-C/HGV RNA was commonly detected in post-LT patients compared with the control group (28/44 [64%] vs. 13/91 [14%]; P<0.001). GBV-C/HGV infection was not related to the number of blood products transfused, a particular surgeon, or a specific liver disease. GBV-C/HGV infection also had no significant impact on the post-LT clinical profile. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that GBV-C/HGV infection is very common in LT recipients, but that it has minimal clinical impact in this population.