Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 12, Issue 11 2380-2384, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
A Szabo, S Viazov, U Heemann, A Kribben, T Philipp and M Roggendorf
Background: Recently a new human virus (GBV-C/HGV) was
identified. With the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the
possibility of a high prevalence of the GBV-C/HGV infection in
haemodialysis patients was demonstrated. The aim of the present study was
to use a combination of the PCR and a new diagnostic test for antibodies to
the viral envelope protein E2 to assess the prevalence of the GBV-C/HGV
infection in German patients with renal failure.
Methods: RT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect
GBV-C/HGV RNA and antiviral antibodies (anti-E2) in the sera of 31 patients
on a maintenance haemodialysis (HD)), 25 patients on a peritoneal dialysis
(CAPD), and 92 renal transplant patients (RT).
Results: A statistical trend was noted for a higher
rate of the GBV-C/HGV RNA in the whole group of patients with renal failure
(11.5%) than in the control group of organ donors (5.5%); The difference
between GBV-C/HGV RNA prevalence in RT patients (15.2%) and in organ donors
(5.5%) was found to be significant. Anti-E2, which are considered as an
indictor of a past GBV-C/HGV infection, were detected in 12.9% of HD
patients, in 20.0% of CAPD patients, in 10.9% of RT patients, in 1.1% of
organ donors, and in 10.9% of blood donors. These differences were not
significant. Time on haemodialysis was significantly longer in GBV-C/HGV
infected patients compared to uninfected patients and all patients with the
GBV-C/HGV RNA have a history of blood transfusions.
Conclusions: Patients with renal failure treated with
dialysis or subjected to renal transplantation are at increased risk of
acquiring the GBV-C/HGV infection. Higher rates of the GBV-C/HGV RNA and a
similar prevalence of anti-E2 in patients with renal failure as compared to
donors suggest that the rate of GBV-C/HGV infection resolution in
immunosuppressed patients with renal failure might be lower than in
immunocompetent patients. Key words: anti-E2, GBV-C,
HGV, haemodialysis, liver disease; peritoneal dialysis, renal
transplantation
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
GBV-C/HGV infection in renal dialysis and transplant patients
Department of Nephrology and Institute of Virology, Unikinikum Essen, Jufelandstr. 55, D-45147 Essen, Germany; Corresponding author
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