GB virus C hepatitis G virus and intravenous immunoglobulins

Background and Objectives: Different intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) we re found to be GB virus C/hepatitis G virus polymerase chain reaction (GBV- C/HGV-PCR)-positive. The potential transmission of this virus to recipients by a PCR-positive IVIG batch was investigated. Materials and Methods: Poly clonal IVIGs of different manufacturers and with different: virus inactivat ion procedures were analyzed by GEV-C/HGV-PCR and anti-E2-ELISA. Follow-up sera of 13 participants of a clinical trial performed with a GBV-C/HGV-PCR- positive batch were retrospectively investigated for GBV-C/HGV seroconversi on (specific antibodies, viral RNA). Results: Four out of ten IVIGs analyse d by GBV-C/HCJV-IPCR were - at least for some batches - virus genome-positi ve. Virus inactivation by solvent/detergent treatment resulted in GBV-C/HGV -PCR-negative products. GBV-C/HGV-specific antibodies were detectable in al l IVIGs analyzed. There was no transmission of GBV-C/HGV observed when reci pients of a large amount of a GBV-C/HGV-PCR-positive batch were analyzed by an antibody test and specific PCR. Conclusions: Despite PCR positivity of an IVIG preparation no transmission of GBV-C/HGV to recipients was observed . Possible explanations are a sufficient virus inactivation procedure and/o r presence of specific antibodies in the final products.