Prevalence of hepatitis G virus in patients with hemophilia and their steady female sexual partners

Background: Hepatitis G virus (HGV), also known as GB virus C, is a newly d iscovered Flavivirus that is transmissible by blood transfusion and other p ossible routes. Objective: To study the risk of sexual transmission of HGV in female sexual partners of men with hemophilia (n = 161 couples). Methods: Blood samples obtained from 11 medical centers were analyzed for ( 1) HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction; (2) antibodies to HGV by enzyme im munoassay; and (3) other viruses and T-cell counts by routine laboratory te sts. Subjects completed a questionnaire that assessed sexual intercourse fr equency, number of sexual partners, condom usage, sexually transmitted dise ases, illicit drug usage, and needlestick or broken-glass injuries. Results: The HGV infection (RNA +/- antibody positive) prevalence was 48% a mong men and 21% among women. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV among men was 99%, 94%, and 86%, compared with 3%, 11%, and 12% among women, respectively. The odds ratio for HGV infection for women w ith an HGV-positive male sexual partner was 2.14 (P = 0.06) without adjustm ent, and 2.77 (P = 0.03) with adjustment for other variables, none of which were independently significant. Conclusion: These results suggest a low level of HGV sexual transmission.