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Influence of hepatitis G virus infection on liver disease
I D Diamantis1, E Kouroumalis, M Koulentaki
1Outpatient Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Insights
Hepatitis G virus (HGV) coinfection showed no impact on hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease activity but was linked to mild liver fibrosis. HGV did not affect liver damage in non-viral liver diseases.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a known human flavivirus.
- The impact of HGV on liver disease, particularly in coinfections, requires further elucidation.
- Understanding HGV's role is crucial for managing viral hepatitis and liver disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of HGV infection on disease activity in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related and unrelated liver diseases.
- To determine if HGV coinfection affects viral load, ALT levels, or liver fibrosis.
- To assess HGV's impact on liver damage in patients with non-viral liver conditions.
Main Methods:
- EIA polymerase chain reaction assay used to detect HGV in 254 individuals.
- Study population included patients with chronic hepatitis C, primary biliary cirrhosis, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and blood donors (HBsAg-positive and anti-HCV-positive).
- Comparison of viral load, ALT levels, and liver fibrosis between HGV-coinfected and HGV-uninfected groups.
Main Results:
- HGV was detected in 18% of chronic hepatitis C patients, 13% with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 11% with primary biliary cirrhosis, 10% of anti-HCV-positive donors, and 2% of HBsAg-positive donors.
- No significant difference in viral load or ALT levels was observed between HCV alone and HCV/HGV coinfected patients.
- Mild liver fibrosis was found to correlate with HGV coinfection, while HGV did not influence ALT levels or liver damage in unrelated liver diseases.
Conclusions:
- HGV coinfection does not significantly alter disease activity markers like ALT levels in HCV patients.
- A correlation between HGV coinfection and mild liver fibrosis suggests a potential role in liver pathology.
- HGV appears to have a minimal impact on liver damage in diseases unrelated to viral hepatitis.
Abstract:
The influence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection on disease activity in hepatitis C related and unrelated liver disease was investigated in 254 individuals using an EIA polymerase chain reaction assay for HGV. One hundred patients had chronic hepatitis C, 26 primary biliary cirrhosis, and 30 alcoholic liver cirrhosis. In addition, 51 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 47 anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive blood donors were screened. Hepatitis G virus was detected in 18% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, 13% of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 11% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 10% of anti-HCV-positive blood donors, and 2% of HBsAg-positive blood donors. Virus load and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ significantly in patients with HCV alone versus patients coinfected with HCV and HGV. However, mild liver fibrosis correlated with HGV coinfection. Hepatitis G virus did not influence ALT levels or liver damage in liver disease unrelated to viral infection.