Prevalence of HGV infection in hemodialysis patients judged by anti-E2 andRNA detection

To evaluate the real incidence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in hemo dialysis we have investigated the presence of a specific antibody against H GV (anti-E2) and RNA-HGV as markers of past and present infection, respecti vely, in 88 patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Results ar e expresed in Table I. In 88 patients, 29.5% (26/88) were seropositivie for some marker and the re mainder (70.5%: 62/88) were seronegative. We have found positive antibodies -antiE2 in 69.2% (18/26) of the seropositive group, and positive-RNA in 26. 9% (7/26) of them. Both RNA and anti-HGV were present in only one (3.8%) pa tient. Duration of hemodialysis was greater (p<0.0001) in seropositive than serone gative group. Our results show a higher prevalence of HGV infection than preciosus report s. These did not include specific antibody detection and therefore understi mated the true prevalence.