GB virus C infection in patients with primary antibody deficiency

Sera from 77 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) were tested for GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA, because they are prone to unexplained chronic hepatitis, and from 28 patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) who have a similar primary antibody deficiency but are not prone to hepatitis. Eight CVID and 8 XLA patients were positive; 6 positive CVID and 3 XLA patients had abnormal liver enzymes, explained in 3 by either hepatitis B or C virus infection. Most patients tested had antibodies to the E2 antigen of GBV-C, apparently passively acquired from their immunoglobulin therapy. The high prevalence of GBV-C viremia in CVID and XLA patients is probably explained by their long-term exposure to blood products. Our data indicate that GBV-C does not cause chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised XLA patients and is not the cause of chronic non-B or -C hepatitis in the majority of CVID patients.