Prevalence of hepatitis G virus in a haemodialysis unit

Background : Recently, a novel blood-borne virus has been identified and na med hepatitis G virus. Transfusion is the main route of transmission. It is known that patients on maintenance dialysis are more susceptible to infect ions with parenterally-transmitted viruses than the general population. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis G in fection in a Belgian dialysis unit. Methods: The entire population of our dialysis unit (82 patients) was teste d for the presence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) by reverse transcriptase poly merase chain reaction. History of transfusion or renal transplantation coin fections with hepatitis B and C viruses, and serum aminotransferase levels were also tested. Results: Thirteen patients (16%) were found positive for HGV-RNA. Among the se patients, 69.2% were infected by the G virus alone, 15.4% were coinfecte d with B virus, and 15.4% with C virus. All but one patient had a history o f transfusion. Ten of the thirteen infected patients (77%) had normal amino transferase (< 30 UI/l). Three patients had elevated aminotransferase level s (23%); one was coinfected with B virus, one with C virus, and the last on e had a diabetes-induced fatty liver infiltration. No liver biopsies were p erformed. Conclusions :It is concluded that infection with C virus is common among di alyzed patients. This high rate of infection could be related to previous t ransfusions, but may as well be due to nosocomial transmission. In our seri es, at least one patient has been contaminated by another road than transpl antation or transfusion. Finally, it does not appear clearly that chronic i nfection with hepatitis G virus induces Liver disease, as defined by elevat ed aminotransferase level.