Association of GB virus C (GBV-C) hepatitis G virus (HGV) with haematological diseases of different malignant potential

Among risk groups for GB virus C (GBV-C)/HGV infection, patients with haema tological diseases are particularly exposed due to the combination of trans fusional support and immunodeficiency status. To examine any association be tween GBV-C/HGV positivity and different malignancy potential of hematologi cal diseases, we investigated two groups of patients, one with clonal stem cell disease with long latency period (myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative d isease) and one with malignant haematological diseases (Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute leukemia, multiple myeloma). Virus positivit y was compared with the data from cytogenetic analysis at first diagnosis. The frequency of GBV-C/HGV infection in these patients was studied using re verse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and E2 antibody assa y. Serum GBV-C RNA was found in 29/47 (62%) patients. The prevalence of GBV -C RNA in the group of oncological cases (72%) was significantly higher(P=. 02) than in the patients with clonal stem cell diseases (28%). Among the GB V-C negative cases, only 25% had malignant haematological diseases. The dat a from GBV-C/HGV tested cases for which cytogenetic analysis was carried ou t indicated an association of GBVC/HGV positivity with genomic destabilizat ion in general. Of the cases with numerical and structural aberrations, 64% were GBV-C positive, A correlation could not be confirmed between GBV-C/HG V and liver enzyme levels, blood transfusions, chemotherapy treatment, or v iral coinfection. These findings suggest a high risk of GBV-C/HGV infection in patients with haematological disorders especially in the group of malig nant diseases. These observations may indicate that the persistence of GBV- C/HGV in these patients could be associated with susceptibility to genomic destabilisation. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.