Comparison of characteristics between patients with GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) RNA and those with GBV-C/HGV E2-antibody in patients with hemophilia

Abstract

We compared characteristics of patients with GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) RNA to those of patients with GBV-C/HGV E2-antibody. GBV-C/HGV RNA and GBV-C/HGV antibody were assayed in 83 persons with hemophilia using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in 19 (22.9%) patients and GBV-C/HGV antibody was detected in 17 (20.5%). The background characteristics between the patient groups did not differ with respect to age, severity of hemophilia based on the frequency of use of blood product, and both the initial age at the first use and years since the first use of blood products. There were no differences in coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or human immunodeficiency virus, except that infection with HCV subtype 1a was more prevalent in patients with GBV-C/HGV RNA (P = 0.0229). Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) typing was conducted in 18 patients with GBV-C/HGV RNA and 15 patients with GBV-C/HGV E2-antibody; 13 of the patients with GBV-C/HGV antibody had either HLA DQ7, DR15, or DR8, whereas only 4 of the patients with GBV-C/HGV RNA did (P < 0. 001). It is concluded that the presumed age at the time of GBV-C/HGV infection, the frequency of exposure to GBV-C/HGV, and the time since the GBV-C/HGV infection were not associated with recovery from infection with GBV-C/HGV. Coinfection with HCV subtype 1a may be related to persistent GBV-C/HGV viremia, whereas HLA DQ7, DR15, or DR8 may be related to the clearance of GBV-C/HGV after infection.