Clinical, virological and histological implications of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a multicentre study based on 671 patients

GB virus C infection among young, HIV-negative injection drug users with and without hepatitis C virus infection

Our study examined the association between GB virus C (GBV-C) and (i) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status, (ii) biomedical indicators of liver disease (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases) and (iii) HCV RNA level among young injection drug users (IDUs) recruited using street outreach and respondent-driven methods. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were completed. GBV-C (active or resolved) infection was significantly (P < 0.05) more prevalent among HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV+) (65.1%) than antibody-negative (anti-HCV-) (32.3%) (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 2.3-6.9) IDUs. The prevalence of resolved GBV-C infection was highest among those with chronic HCV infection (41.9%), followed by those with resolved HCV infection (34.4%) and significantly lower (P < 0.05) among anti-HCV participants (16.9%). Although not statistically significant (P = 0.13), a similar pattern was observed for active GBV-C infection. No association between GBV-C infection status and biomedical indicators of liver disease or HCV RNA level over time was observed. In conclusion, GBV-C infection prevalence was higher among anti-HCV+ compared to anti-HCV- young IDUs, similar to prior studies among older populations. In particular, chronically HCV-infected young IDUs had an increased rate of GBV-C clearance.

Hepatitis G virus

A number of new hepatitis viruses (G, TT, SEN) were discovered late in the past century. We review the data available in the literature and our own findings suggesting that the new hepatitis G virus (HGV), disclosed in the late 1990s, has been rather well studied. Analysis of many studies dealing with HGV mainly suggests the lymphotropicity of this virus. HGV or GBV-C has been ascertained to influence course and prognosis in the HIV-infected patient. Until now, the frequent presence of GBV-C in coinfections, hematological diseases, and biliary pathology gives no grounds to determine it as an “accidental tourist” that is of no significance. The similarity in properties of GBV-C and hepatitis C virus (HCV) offers the possibility of using HGV, and its induced experimental infection, as a model to study hepatitis C and to develop a hepatitis C vaccine.

Prevalence and clinical role of GBV-C infection after cardiac surgery in childhood: a study on 414 patients

OBJECTIVES

GB-virus C (GBV-C) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share similar modes of transmission. We, therefore, examined the prevalence and clinical role of GBV-C and HCV in patients after cardiac surgery in childhood.

METHODS

We analysed blood samples of 414 patients and compared them to 487 controls. Evidence of liver disease and risk factors for infection was analysed.

RESULTS

Overall prevalence of GBV-C infection was 22.5% in the patients, compared to 6.2% in the controls (HCV infection 11.3 vs. 0.7%). GBV-C RNA was detected in 8.2% of the patients vs. 3.7% in the controls (HCV RNA in 6 and 0%, respectively). Eleven patients had detectable RNA of GBV-C and HCV. 63.4% of patients infected with GBV-C and 46.8% of patients infected with HCV cleared the virus from circulation. GBV-C infection was not associated with hepatitis. Liver disease was not more frequent in patients co-infected with HCV and GBV-C.

CONCLUSIONS

before 1991 have a substantial risk for HCV and GBV-C infection. However, GBV-C infection seems not to be associated with a liver disease. Co-infection with GBV-C and HCV has no influence on long-term clinical outcome or viral clearance of HCV infection.

Direct evidence for GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) superinfection: elimination of resident viral strain by donor strain in a patient undergoing liver transplantation

The viral genome of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), a single-strand RNA virus, is subject to considerable variability and at least four genotypes have been suggested based on phylogenetic analysis. While co-infection of GBV-C/HGV with other infectious agents such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been frequently observed, there is no report whether or not co-infection and/or superinfection occurs among different GBV-C/HGV strains. By studying a GBV-C/HGV positive recipient/donor pair in the context of undergoing liver transplantation, we have sequenced multiple clones derived from serum samples serially collected over four years. Detailed phylogenetic analyses have been performed with these sequences. The donor was infected with GBV-C/HGV genotype 1 and this strain completely replaced recipient GBV-C/HGV strain (genotype 2) after liver transplantation. The recipient's original viral strain became undetectable during follow-up. Sequence analysis failed to identify genetic recombination between the two genotypes, at least in whole structural domain. This study, therefore, provides direct evidence for GBV-C/HGV superinfection of one strain by another with one of them predominating probably due to replication competition.

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

GB Virus C and Hepatitis G Virus (GBV-C/HGV) are positive, single-stranded flaviviruses. GBV-C and HGV are independent isolates of the same virus. Transmission via the blood-borne route is the commonest mode, although vertical and sexual transmission is well documented. GBV-C/HGV is distributed globally; its prevalence in the general population is 10 fold higher in African countries than in non-African countries. High prevalences of GBV-C/HGV have been found in subjects with frequent parenteral exposure and in groups at high risk of exposure to blood and blood products. The clinical significance of human infection with GBV-C/HGV is currently unclear. The virus can establish both acute and chronic infection and appears to be sensitive to interferon. Only some 12-15% of chronic Non-A, B, C hepatitis cases are infected with GBV-C/HGV. A direct association with liver pathology is still lacking and it is not yet clear as to whether GBV-C/HGV is indeed a hepatotropic virus. Current evidence suggests that the spectrum of association of GBV-C/HGV infection with extrahepatic diseases ranges from haematalogical diseases, aplastic anaemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive idiopathic thrombocytopenia and thalassemia, through to common variable immune deficiency and cryoglobunemia.

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

GB Virus C and Hepatitis G Virus (GBV-C/HGV) are positive, single-stranded flaviviruses. GBV-C and HGV are independent isolates of the same virus. Transmission via the blood-borne route is the commonest mode, although vertical and sexual transmission is well documented. GBV-C/HGV is distributed globally; its prevalence in the general population is 10 fold higher in African countries than in non-African countries. High prevalences of GBV-C/HGV have been found in subjects with frequent parenteral exposure and in groups at high risk of exposure to blood and blood products. The clinical significance of human infection with GBV-C/HGV is currently unclear. The virus can establish both acute and chronic infection and appears to be sensitive to interferon. Only some 12-15% of chronic Non-A, B, C hepatitis cases are infected with GBV-C/HGV. A direct association with liver pathology is still lacking and it is not yet clear as to whether GBV-C/HGV is indeed a hepatotropic virus. Current evidence suggests that the spectrum of association of GBV-C/HGV infection with extrahepatic diseases ranges from haematalogical diseases, aplastic anaemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive idiopathic thrombocytopenia and thalassemia, through to common variable immune deficiency and cryoglobunemia.