Annals of Clinical Microbiology, The official Journal of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

The Prevalence of Hepatitis G Virus by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Original article

Annals of Clinical Microbiology (Ann Clin Microbiol) 1999 June Volume 2, Issue 1, pages 82-88.

The Prevalence of Hepatitis G Virus by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Kyung Dong Kim, M.D., Hee Soon Cho, M.D., Jin Young Moon M.D. and Chae Hoon Lee, M.D.

Department of Clinical Pathology, Yeungnam University, College of Medicine, Taegu, Korea

Abstract

Background:Hepatitis G virus(HGV) is known to be associated with non-A-E hepatitis but pathogenic relevance and mode of transmission are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the prevalence and clinical implications of HGV infection in patients on hemodialysis or being treated for hematologic disease, and healthy controls.

Methods: HGV RNA was identified in serum by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) with nested primers deduced from highly conserved area of the 5′-untranslated region. Other parenterally transmissible hepatitis viral markers(HBsAg and anti-HCV) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT), history of transfusion, duration of hemodialysis were assessed.

Results:HGV RNA was detected in 12.5%(8 of 64) of the patients on hemodialysis and in 24.1%(14 of 58) of the patients treated for hematologic disease, as compared with 0.8%(1 of 120) of healthy controls(P<0.05). HBsAg, anti-HCV, ALT level, rate of transfusion history and duration of hemodialysis were not significantly different between HGV-infected patients and non-HGV-infected patients. In patients treated for hematologic disease, sex was significantly different between HGV positive and negative groups.

Conclusions:Patients on hemodialysis and being treated for hematologic disease have increased risk for HGV infection, but there was no clinical difference between HGV RNA positive and negative groups. HGV infection itself does not seem to be a frequent cause of liver disease in these patients. The clinical significance of long-term infection with HGV remains to be established. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 1999;2:82~88)

Keywords

Hepatitis G virus, Non-A-E hepatitis, Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction