GBV-C/HGV-RNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hemodialysis patients

Background. Hemodialysis patients are at high risk of hepatitis B, C, and G virus infection. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV-RNA was analyzed in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 52 hemodialysis patients. Methods. GBV-C/HGV-RNA detection was performed by reverse transcription pol ymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers of 5'-noncoding (5'-NC) and NS 3 regions of the GBV-C/HGV genome. To increase sensitivity, serum samples w ere ultracentrifuged prior to the RT-PCR to concentrate the viral particles . The amplified products from 20 serum and 5 peripheral blood mononuclear c ells (PBMC) samples were sequenced. Results. GBV-C/HGV-RNA was detected in sera of 9 (17%) and in PBMCs of 30 ( 58%) patients. After serum ultracentrifugation, GBV-C/HGV-RNA was positive in 20 (95%) of the patients, with GBV-C/HGV-RNA only in PBMCs. Thus, GBV-C/ HGV-RNA was detected in serum and PBMCs from 29 (56%) patients, four of who m had antibodies against GBV-C/HGV E2 protein (anti-HGE2); one patient (2%) had GBV-C/HGV-RNA only in PBMCs, but was anti-HGE2 positive. Seven (32%) p atients who did not have GBV-C/HGV-RNA were anti-HGE2 positive. The nucleot ide sequence homology between serum samples from the patients who were GBV- C/HGV-RNA positive after ultracentrifugation, and paired serum and PBMCs fr om five of them, ranged from 90 to 96% and from 92 to 98%, respectively. Conclusions. We found a high prevalence of GBV-C/HGV-RNA in serum and PBMC samples from hemodialysis patients. Whether or not this finding can be exte nded to other populations requires further study.