Influence of Hepatitis G Virus Infection on Liver Disease

Overview

Journal Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis

Publisher Springer

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 1998 Mar 12

PMID 9495673

Citations 1

Authors

I D Diamantis

E Kouroumalis

M Koulentaki

E Fasler-Kan

P A Schmid

H H Hirsch

H Buhler

K Gyr

M Battegay

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The influence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection on disease activity in hepatitis C related and unrelated liver disease was investigated in 254 individuals using an EIA polymerase chain reaction assay for HGV. One hundred patients had chronic hepatitis C, 26 primary biliary cirrhosis, and 30 alcoholic liver cirrhosis. In addition, 51 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 47 anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive blood donors were screened. Hepatitis G virus was detected in 18% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, 13% of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 11% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 10% of anti-HCV-positive blood donors, and 2% of HBsAg-positive blood donors. Virus load and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ significantly in patients with HCV alone versus patients coinfected with HCV and HGV. However, mild liver fibrosis correlated with HGV coinfection. Hepatitis G virus did not influence ALT levels or liver damage in liver disease unrelated to viral infection.

Citing Articles

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV): still looking for a disease.

Sathar M, Soni P, York D Int J Exp Pathol. 2001; 81(5):305-22.

PMID: 11168678 PMC: 2517736. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2613.2000.00166.x.

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