HEPATITIS GB-VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-INFECTION IN LIVER-DISEASE

Hepatitis GB virus-C (HGBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection was in vestigated in 106 children with liver disease (54 boys and 52 girls, m ean age 7.3 years); 12 with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, 29 wi th positive hepatitis B surface antigen, nine with idiopathic fulminan t hepatic failure, seven with graft dysfunction after liver transplant ation associated with autoimmune features, 20 with cryptogenic liver d isease, and 29 with autoimmune liver disease. HGV RNA detected by reve rse transcription polymerase chain reaction was found to be positive i n 4/106 patients (3.8%). Risk factors were identified in three patient s, including blood transfusion and/or medical treatment in Eastern Eur ope. The prevalence was higher than that of blood donors but lower tha n that of 2 adult patients with liver disease. HGV is not associated w ith any specific disease group and does not seem to be a major aetiolo gical agent of liver disease in childhood in the UK.