Involvement of GBV-C/HGV in liver diseases in Japan

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted of members of the NANB Hepatitis Research Group of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare on the incidence of GBV-C/HGV RNA-positivity among HCV, HBV, and non-B-C infected patients to clarify the involvement of the newly discovered GBV-C/HGV in hepatic diseases in Japan. As a result, GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in about 10% of HCV-infected patients, 5% of HBV-infected patients, and 5% of patients with non-B non-C hepatitis. With HBs antigen-positive patients, the GBV-C/HGV positivity rate increased with the progression of liver disease from 3.9% with chronic hepatitis, 5.4% with liver cirrhosis, and 9.1% with hepatocellular carcinoma. This increase was not observed with HCV RNA-positive and non-B, non-C patients. Also no GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive patients were seen among HCV RNA-positive fulminant hepatitis patients having no history of use of blood or blood products. These results suggest that although GBV-C/HGV may possibly be involved as a causative virus in some non-A-E hepatitis in Japan, it is not a main cause. If HBV-infected patients are excluded, it is almost possible to conclude that GBV-C/HGV is not involved in the progression of chronic liver disease. Although a very slight possibility exists that GBV-C/HGV infection may be a cause of fulminant hepatitis, the data suggest that it is not a major cause.