HGV/GBV-C infection in liver transplant recipients: antibodies to the viral E2 envelope glycoprotein protect from de novo infection.
J Hepatol
; 29(4): 533-40, 1998 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9824261
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Liver transplantation for endstage liver cirrhosis provides a useful model to investigate the pathogenetic role of hepatotropic viral agents. Recently, a new member of the Flaviviridae family, provisionally named HGV/GBV-C virus, has been associated with acute and chronic non A-E hepatitis. We studied 136 patients with cirrhosis consecutively transplanted at our institution for evidence of hepatitis G virus infection and correlation with the patients' clinical course.METHODS:
All patients survived for at least 6 months after transplantation (median follow-up 44 months) and underwent routine liver biopsies. Hepatitis G virus infection was studied using both direct viral RNA identification by RT-PCR and indirect detection of antibodies to the E2 glycoprotein.RESULTS:
There was a high frequency of the hepatitis G virus among patients undergoing liver transplantation, with HGV RNA and anti-E2 prevalence rates of 18.4% and 26.5%, respectively. HGV RNA prevalences significantly increased after transplantation (47.8%), with 47.3% rate of new infections in susceptible subjects. Anti-E2 antibodies were significantly more prevalent among patients transplanted for HCV-related cirrhosis and represented a strong protective factor against hepatitis G virus reinfection or recurrent infection. No correlation was found between HGV RNA or anti-E2 prevalences and survival after transplantation or rates of recurrent liver damage.CONCLUSIONS:
All available evidence suggests that, although liver transplant patients are heavily exposed to hepatitis G virus both before and after transplantation, hepatitis G virus does not induce liver disease in this setting. Most infections appear to be self-limited and induce a protective immunity which is marked by the presence of anti-E2 antibodies.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite
/
Proteínas do Envelope Viral
/
Transplante de Fígado
/
Flaviviridae
/
Hepatite Viral Humana
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Hepatol
Assunto da revista:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
1998
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália