GB-VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-INFECTION AMONG JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL DISEASES

To evaluate the association between GB virus C and hepatitis G virus ( GBV-C/HGV) infection and hematological diseases for which frequent tra nsfusion is required, 60 patients with such diseases were examined. GB V-C/HGV RNA and antibody to HGV envelope protein E2 (anti-E2) in serum were detected by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (R T-PCR) and ELISA? respectively. These patients had been transfused wit h 189.2 +/- 396.5 (0-2206) units of blood from 54.0 +/- 109.4 (0-494) blood donors. Eight (13.3%) and seven (11.7%) of them were positive fo r GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2, respectively. Only one patient was positi ve for both. Thus, 14 (23.3%) were positive for GBV-C/HGV RNA and/or a nti-E2. There was no significant correlation between the positivities for GBV-C/HGV RNA and!or anti-E2 and any particular disease. The numbe r of transfused units (P < 0.05) and the number of donors (P < 0.05) i n the patients positive for GBV-C/HGV RNA and/or anti-E2 were signific antly higher than those negative for both. There was no significant di fference in received units of blood or the number of blood donor betwe en the patients with and without anti-E2 in the patients infected by G BV-C/HGV. These data indicate that II) GBV-C/HGV infection was not ass ociated directly with the hematological diseases and (2) GBV-C/HGV inf ection in the patients with hematological diseases was likely to have been acquired through blood transfusion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd.