Preliminary study on pathogenicity of hepatitis G virus
Liao, S.; Zhan, M.; Yang, Z.
Zhonghua Shi Yan he Lin Chuang Bing du Xue Za Zhi 14(4): 358-360
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 1003-9279 PMID: 11471026 Document Number: 517364
To study the clinical, enzymatic and liver pathological changes in patients with hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection. RT- nested PCR was applied to detect HGV RNA in 368 patients with hepatic diseases. The liver biopsy tissue from one liver cirrhosis patient with simple HGV infection was examined. Simple HGV RNA positive were found in 7 cases of 71 acute hepatitis jaundice, in 22 cases of 155 chronic hepatitis and in 3 cases of 51 liver cirrhosis. The immunohistochemistry of the liver biopsy tissue from a liver cirrhosis patient showed HGV NS5 antigen positive. However, HGV infection might occur simply or in combination with hepatitis B or C virus or super infected. HGV RNA could be detected in acute hepatitis jaundice, chronic hepatitis, hepatitis B or C carriers, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HGV is proved to be a hepatotropic virus by pathological examination and immunohistochemistry, the virus located in the cytoplasm of the liver cells. It may cause chronic hepatitis and even liver cirrhosis, so HGV is pathogenic to liver tissue.