TRANSFUSION-ASSOCIATED OR NOSOCOMIAL HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-INFECTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SURGERY

BACKGROUND: Despite blood donor screening, there are still cases of tr ansfusion-associated hepatitis. From 1988 to 1992, a prospective study was conducted on the incidence of non-A,non-B posttransfusion hepatit is (PTH). STUDY DESIGN: The present investigation was designed to dete rmine if transfusion recipients with PTH who are negative for hepatiti s C virus (HCV) were positive for hepatitis G virus (HGV). Patients ad mitted for surgery who had normal liver tests and no transfusions duri ng the previous 6 months were enrolled. Alanine amino transferase leve ls were determined monthly for 6 months after surgery and for 1 year i n the case of PTH (defined as alanine aminotranferase twice the upper limit of normal in two consecutive assays). HGV RNA and E2 antibodies were tested for in samples from transfusion recipients with or without PTH and from nontransfused patients. RESULTS: Of the 308 blood recipi ents who were enrolled in the study, 21 (6.8%) had PTH. HGV RNA was de tected at the onset of hepatitis in 3 patients with PTH (14%), 2 of wh om were also anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive. One patient developed E2 a ntibodies without detectable HGV RNA. Three (10.7%) of 28 recipients o f an allogeneic transfusion without PTH developed HGV infection. HGV R NA was also found in two nontransfused patients, which suggests nosoco mial transmission of HGV. CONCLUSION: Some cases of PTH are associated with HGV; most cases of postoperative HGV infection are not associate d with liver abnormalities; and most PTH cases are not associated with known hepatotropic viruses.