Prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in patients with chronic liver disease
Savas, M.C.; Guney, C.; Kadayifci, A.; Koruk, M.; Balkan, A.; Kubar, A.
New Microbiologica 25(4): 399-404
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-7138 PMID: 12437218 Document Number: 544986
Hepatitis G virus (HGV) may cause acute and chronic infection in humans but its role in liver injury and chronic hepatitis is unclear. In this study, the prevalence of HGV was investigated in patients with chronic liver diseases in an endemic area of hepatitis B and C virus. Sixty patients with chronic liver diseases, 11 with hepatitis B virus, 44 with hepatitis C virus and 5 patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology and 60 healthy blood donors as the control were included in the study. HGV RNA was investigated by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. HGV RNA was detected in none of the patients with chronic liver diseases (0%) and only one patient (1.6%) in the control group. There was no difference between the groups. This observation indicated that the prevalence of HGV is very low in patients with chronic liver diseases and healthy people in our geographical area. The role of this novel virus in the pathogenesis of chronic liver injury seems insignificant.