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No evidence of hepatitis G virus in fulminant hepatic failure in children

R G Perez1, N N Zein, D K Freese

  • 1Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|April 16, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis G virus is not a common cause of fulminant hepatic failure in children. Researchers found no evidence of Hepatitis G virus infection in pediatric liver transplant patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in children often has an unknown etiology, with viral infections suspected.
  • Hepatitis G virus (HGV), a newly identified blood-borne virus, was investigated as a potential cause of FHF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Hepatitis G virus in pediatric fulminant hepatic failure.
  • To determine if HGV is a causative agent in children requiring liver transplantation for FHF.

Main Methods:

  • Studied six pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation for FHF.
  • Tested patient samples for Hepatitis G virus antibodies and RNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • Excluded other known causes of FHF prior to HGV testing.

Main Results:

  • No evidence of Hepatitis G virus infection was detected in the studied pediatric FHF patients.
  • Neither HGV antibodies nor HGV RNA were found in any of the children.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis G virus is unlikely to be a common cause of fulminant hepatic failure in pediatric patients.
  • Findings suggest HGV is not a significant etiological factor for FHF in children from the upper midwestern United States.
Abstract

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