GB-VIRUS-C INFECTION IN TYPE-1 AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS

Objective: To assess the frequency and significance of GB virus-C infe ction in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. Material and Methods: Serum spec imens from 94 patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis were tested fo r GB virus-C RNA by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactio n. Serum samples from 50 normal subjects were also assessed. Results: Three of the 94 specimens from patients with autoimmune hepatitis were positive for GB virus C RNA in comparison with none of the 50 control samples (3% versus 0%; P = 0.5). Two patients were seropositive after variceal hemorrhage and blood transfusion, including one patient who clearly acquired the infection in this fashion. One patient had no epi demiologic basis for his seropositivity, Viremia was prolonged in all infected patients (mean duration, 69 +/- 23 months; range, 36 to 113); however, no clinical features suggested a concurrent viral infection, and mortality was similar to that among: the uninfected counterparts (33% versus 8%; P = 0.2), Liver transplantation was more common in the infected patients (67% versus 9%; P = 0.03), but the duration of dise ase was also longer in these patients (277 +/- 29 months versus 106 +/ - 9 months; P = 0.0008). Clinical features and immediate responses to corticosteroid therapy mere similar in both groups, Conclusion: GB vir us-C RNA is found infrequently in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, and GB virus C is unlikely to be an important etiologic agent or prognostic d eterminant.