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GB Virus C Infection: Clinical Significance
- Source :
- Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol 13, Iss 10, Pp 814-818 (1999)
- Publication Year :
- 1999
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 1999.
-
Abstract
- GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA positivity rates were examined in serum specimens from 231 patients with liver disease (23 patients with hepatitis B, 175 patients with hepatitis C, five patients with hepatitis B virus plus hepatitis C virus coinfection, and 28 patients with non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis) to clarify the clinical significance of this virus. GBV-C RNA was detected in none of 12 patients with fulminant hepatitis, one of two patients with acute hepatitis positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and one of four patients with acute non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis. Pathogenetic involvement of GBV-C was suspected in some patients in the latter group. Among patients with the non-B, non-C type of chronic disease, one of seven with cirrhosis (14%) and none with chronic hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma were GBV-C-positive. In chronic hepatitis C patients who had received interferon treatment, no difference was found in clinical findings, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, histology or response to interferon between 11 patients who were GBV-C RNA-positive and 101 patients who were GBV-C RNA-negative. Moreover, changes in ALT after interferon therapy showed no relation to positivity for GBV-C RNA. On the basis of these findings, GBV-C appears to be an unlikely cause of initiation or progression of chronic hepatic diseases.
- Subjects :
- Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology
RC799-869
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 08357900
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.8c3df52a1e94ff08e24ed977321bbf1
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1155/1999/430279