ANTIBODIES TO E2 PROTEIN OF HEPATITIS-G VIRUS IN CHILDREN - DIFFERENTRESPONSES ACCORDING TO AGE AT INFECTION

Objectives: To study viral persistence and antibody responses after he patitis G virus (HGV) infection in children of various ages. Study des ign: We performed an enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to E2 protein ( anti-E2) of HGV and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction as say for HGV RNA on serum samples. Results: Of 28 infants born to HGV R NA-positive mothers, 17 were found to be positive for HGV RNA. None we re positive for anti-E2. All 17 infected infants continued to have vir emia except 1 who converted to HGV RNA-negative status at 24 months. S ix infants had mild elevations of alanine aminotransferase levels (5 H GV-positive and 1 HGV-negative). An additional 14 HGV-infected childre n (aged 6 months to 14 years) with posttransfusion HGV infection were tested for anti-E2 3 months and 12 months after blood transfusion None of the HGV RNA-positive serum samples were positive for anti-E2; howe ver, 4 of the 8 children with resolving HGV infection were positive fo r anti-E2 1 year later. Conclusions: Mother-to-infant transmission of HGV resulted in a high viral persistence rate and lack of;immune respo nses to HGV. In contrast, anti-E2 appeared in children who recovered f rom postransfusion HGV infection. Mode of transmission and age at infe ction may be important factors in determining persistent HGV infection and defective immune response to HGV.