Prevalence of TT virus in serum and peripheral mononuclear cells from a CAPD population

Background: A novel virus named TT virus (TTV) has been isolated recently f rom patients with posttransfusional hepatitis of unknown etiology. The prev alence of TTV in several groups at risk has been reported, however, there i s no information about the prevalence of TTV in patients on continuous ambu latory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) without blood transfusions or hemodialysi s antecedents. Objective:To study the incidence of TTV in serum and peripheral blood monon uclear cells (PBMC) of CAPD patients. Design:TTV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction, using primers fro m the open reading frames (ORF) 1 and 2, in serum and PBMC from 22 CAPD pat ients who had not received blood transfusions or hemodialysis therapy prior to CAPD. As controls, sera from 20 patients with chronic viral hepatitis ( 10 with HBV and 10 with HCV) and 20 healthy donors were included in the stu dy. Results:TTV DNA was detected in the serum of 5 of 22 (22.7%) CAPD patients with both sets of primers. Four of the 5 (80%) patients with TTV DNA in the ir serum were TTV positive in their PBMC with primers from ORF1 and ORF2. F ive of 20 (25%) patients with chronic viral hepatitis (2 patients with HBV and 3 with HCV) and 4 of 20 (20%) healthy donors were TTV DNA positive in s erum. No relation was found between TTV infection and the underlying kidney disease, previous surgery, and abnormal alanine aminotranferase revels. Conclusion:We have found a relatively high prevalence of TTV that is simila r to that found in healthy donors and in patients with chronic viral hepati tis.