GB-VIRUS-C INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY ANTIBODY DEFICIENCY

Sera from 77 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) wer e tested for GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA, because they are prone to unexpla ined chronic hepatitis, and from 28 patients with X-linked agammaglobu linemia (XLA) who have a similar primary antibody deficiency but are n ot prone to hepatitis. Eight CVID and 8 XLA patients were positive; 6 positive CVID and 3 XLA patients had abnormal liver enzymes, explained in 3 by either hepatitis B or C virus infection. Most patients tested had antibodies to the E2 antigen of GBV-C, apparently passively acqui red from their immunoglobulin therapy. The high prevalence of GBV-C vi remia in CVID and XLA patients is probably explained by their long-ter m exposure to blood products. Our data indicate that GBV-C does not ca use chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised XLA patients and is not the cause of chronic non-B or -C hepatitis in the majority of CVID patien ts.