INFECTION WITH GB VIRUS-C (GBV-C) IN PATIENTS WITH FULMINANT-HEPATITIS

Backgrounds/Methods: There appear to be hepatitis viruses other than h epatitis A, B, C, D and E, One of these has been proposed with a desig nation of GB virus C, Sera from 44 patients with fulminant hepatitis w ere tested for RNA of GB virus C by reverse-transcription polymerase c hain reaction with nested primers deduced from the putative non-struct ural 3 (helicase) region, Results: RNA of GB virus C was detected in t hree (20%) of 15 patients with hepatitis B virus infection and three ( 12%) of 25 patients without markers of hepatitis A-E virus infection, Overall, GB virus C RNA was detected in six (14%) of the 44 patients w ith fulminant hepatitis, at a frequency significantly higher (p<0.001) than that in three (0.9%) of 326 blood donors matched for age with th e patients, Conclusions: These results indicate a role of GB virus C i n inducing fulminant hepatitis either by itself or in concert with the other hepatitis viruses.