HISTOPATHOLOGIC IMPACT OF GB-VIRUS-C INFECTION ON CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Background & Aims: Dual infection by hepatitis GB virus type C (GBV-C) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common, To assess the histopathologic impact of GBV-C infection on lister lesions, liver biopsy specimens of 105 patients chronically infected with HCV, 17 of whom (15%) were als o infected with GBV-C, were reviewed, Methods: Semiquantitative histop athologic assessment of liver lesions was performed using the Knodell' s score and the METAVIR grading system, Results: Hepatitis activity wa s mild, moderate, or severe in 3 (18%), 11, (64%), and 3 (18%) patient s, respectively, infected with GBV-C and HCV vs. 26 (29%), 56 (64%), a nd 6 (7%) patients, respectively, infected with HCV alone (no signific ant difference). Cirrhosis was present in 4 (24%) coinfected patients vs, 19 (22%) HCV-positive patients (no significant difference), No sig nificant difference in fibrosis, presence of portal lymphoid aggregate s, steatosis, and hemosiderosis was observed between the two groups. T here was no significant difference in the evaluation of each item of t he Knodell's score, Conclusions: This detailed histopathologic evaluat ion of GBV-C infection in chronic hepatitis C shows that GBV-C infecti on does not affect histopathologic severity and characteristics of chr onic hepatitis C, thus suggesting a minor role of GBV-C infection in l iver disease.