CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-INFECTION IN PATIENTS ON LONG-TERM HEMODIALYSIS

Infection with the newly discovered hepatitis G virus (HGV) was analys ed in 163 patients on long-term haemodialysis to clarify its prevalenc e and clinical significance. Hepatitis G virus RNA in serum was measur ed by polymerase chain reaction with primers corresponding to the puta tive nonstructural 5' region. Of the 163 patients, three (1.8%) were p ositive for hepatitis B surface antigen, 40 (24.5%) were positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA and 16 (9.8%) were positive for HGV-RNA. F ive of the 16 patients with HGV-RNA were also positive for HCV-RNA. Pa tients with HCV and HGV coinfection had undergone a longer duration of haemodialysis (P = 0.001) and had higher units of transfusion (P = 0. 031) compared with those without hepatitis virus infection. Transfusio n history was significantly higher (P = 0.039) in patients with only H GV infection than in those without hepatitis virus infection. Hepatiti s C virus RNA concentration was higher (P = 0.032) in patients with HC V and HGV coinfection than in those with HCV infection only, but alani ne aminotransferase (ALT) levels were similar between these two groups . In conclusion, about 10% of patients on haemodialysis were infected with HGV and the infection was closely associated with transfusion his tory.