TTV infection in patients with acute hepatitis of defined aetiology and inacute non-A-E hepatitis

Background/Aims: Recently, the presence of a novel nonenveloped single-stra nded DNA virus (TTV) has been associated with either acute or chronic hepat itis of unknown aetiology, suggesting a possible aetiological role, The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, the significance and the cli nical impact of TTV infection in patients with acute viral hepatitis of def ined aetiology and in patients with non-A-E acute hepatitis. Methods: TTV-DNA was tested by hemi-nested PCR in serum samples collected f rom 121 patients during and after acute hepatitis (103 with acute viral hep atitis of defined aetiology and 18 with acute non-A-E hepatitis) and in 30 healthy controls. Results: Overall, the rate of TTV infection was 12.6% (13/103) in patients with acute hepatitis of defined aetiology, 16.6% (3/18) in patients with no n-A-E acute hepatitis and 6.6% (2/30) in the healthy control group, (p=n.s) . TTV-DNA was detected in the following proportions: hepatitis B, 13.2% (7/ 53); hepatitis C, 16.6% (4/24); hepatitis A, 4.7% (1/21); hepatitis E 20% ( 1/5). Moreover, acute hepatitis with and without TTV infection/coinfection were comparable in terms of both liver biochemistry and chronicity rate, Th e results of TTV re-testing after serial dilutions of six TTV-DNA positive serum samples during and after the peak of liver transaminases failed to de monstrate a correlation between liver damage and viral titre. Conclusions: The prevalence of TTV infection appeared to be comparable in p atients with non-A-E hepatitis, in acute hepatitis of defined aetiology and in the control group, Hence, an aetiological role of TTV for acute hepatit is of unknown aetiology seems questionable, Moreover, TTV infection does no t modify the natural history of acute hepatitis of defined aetiology.