GB VIRUS-C AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTIONS IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS IN 8 JAPANESE CENTERS

RNA of a putative non-A to E hepatitis virus, designated GB virus C (G BV-C), was detected in 40 (6.2%) of 645 hemodialysis patients, at a fr equency significantly higher than in 3 (0.9%) of 336 blood donors in J apan (p < 0.001). A history of transfusion was more frequent (88 vs. 5 8%, p < 0.001), the duration of dialysis was longer (13.2 +/- 7.9 vs. 7.9 +/- 6.5 years, p < 0.001), and the detection of hepatitis C virus RNA was more often (38 vs. 18%, p < 0.01) in the 40 patients with GBV- C RNA than in the 605 patients without it. The prevalence of GBV-C RNA varied widely from 0 to 10% among the 8 dialysis centers. These resul ts indicate that hemodialysis patients would be at increased risk of G BV-C transmitted by transfusions. The detection of GBV-C RNA in the 5 patients without a history of transfusion and a high prevalence restri cted to certain dialysis centers would reflect nosocomial infection.