Clinical course of chronic hepatitis C virus infection is not influenced by concurrent hepatitis G virus infection

To determine the effects of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection on chronic he patitis C virus infection (HCV) and to evaluate HGV response to interferon, we investigated HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction in 247 Japanese patie nts with chronic HCV infection (166 men and 81 women; 124 had chronic hepat itis and 26 cirrhosis, and 97 hepatocellular carcinoma). HGV RNA was detect able in 22 (8.9%) patients, among whom 21 were men: this male predominance was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There were no differences in age, aminotransferase level, stage of liver disease, HCV RNA level by competiti ve polymerase chain reaction, genotype, or interferon response to HCV RNA b etween patients with HCV infection alone or with HCV/HGV coinfection. Susta ined elimination of HGV RNA was found in 28.6% of the 14 treated patients w ith HCV/HGV coinfection. In the 14 treated patients, sustained elimination of both viruses was seen in two, HCV alone was eliminated in two, and HGV a lone was eliminated in two. Aminotransferase level improvement by interfero n treatment was associated with clearance of HCV, but not of HGV. Thus, HGV infection had no apparent effects on HCV infection, and the sensitivity of HGV to interferon is comparable to but independent of HCV.