Hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection & its pathogenic significance in patients of cirrhosis

Jain, A. ; Kar, P. ; Gopalkrishna, V. ; Gangwal, P. ; Katiyar, S. ; Das, B. C. (1999) Hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection & its pathogenic significance in patients of cirrhosis Indian Journal of Medical Research, 110 . pp. 37-42. ISSN 0971-5916

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Official URL: http://imsear.hellis.org/handle/123456789/16682

Abstract

In the present study the hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection and its pathogenic significance in patients of cirrhosis were assessed using reverse transcription plus nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum samples were collected from a total of 50 patients of histologically proven non-alcoholic cirrhosis and from a control group consisting of 50 healthy voluntary blood donors. HGV RNA was detected by RT-PCR using primer sequences located in the conserved NS3 helicase region of HGV genome. Serological evaluation for markers of chronic infection with HBV (HBsAg, IgG anti-HBc, HBeAg) and HCV (anti-HCV) was carried out using commercially available kits. HBV DNA and HCV RNA were also tested by PCR in those samples that were found to be non-B, non-C by serological assays. Serological evidence of exposure to HBV was found in 31 (62%) and to HCV in 15 (30%) patients. HGV RNA was detected in 6 (12%) cirrhosis patients and in 2 (4%) healthy blood donors but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Of the 6 HGV positive patients, 2 were coinfected with HBV, 1 with HCV, while the remaining 3 belonged to non-B, non-C category. No significant difference was observed in the clinical and biochemical profiles of HGV-positive and HGV-negative patients except that a history of blood transfusion was significantly (P < 0.005) more common in the former. The findings indicate that the HGV infection is commonly observed in both cirrhosis patients as well as healthy blood donors. A significant association of the virus with blood transfusion is indicative of a parenteral route of transmission. The observations of this study also suggest that the pathogenic role of HGV in the causation of liver disease may be insignificant.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Council of Medical Research.
ID Code:8495
Deposited On:27 Oct 2010 06:25
Last Modified:30 May 2011 07:54

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