DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-G VIRUS (HGV) RNA - CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ACUTE HGV INFECTION

The role of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in acute non-A-E hepatit is was investigated in adults with viral hepatitis. HGV RNA was presen t in 1 of 28 patients with non-A-E hepatitis but 9 of 22 with hepatiti s C (P < .003). HGV RNA-positive patients (HGV-infected and HGV-hepati tis C virus [HCV]-coinfected) developed light-to-moderate jaundice, Cl inical and biochemical features of HGV-positive and HCV-positive patie nts and patients with non-A, non-G hepatitis were similar. Three patie nts with HGV-HCV coinfection, tested within 18 months after disease on set, have remained KGV RNA-positive but have become HCV RNA-negative. Only 1 non-A-E hepatitis patient was confirmed as being infected with HGV alone, suggesting that HGV is not the main etiologic agent of non- A-E hepatitis. Although HGV RNA was significantly associated with hepa titis C, patients with mixed HCV-HGV infections did not demonstrate a more severe course of disease than did patients with HCV infection.