CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF GBV-C HGV INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH HCV-RELATED CHRONIC HEPATITIS/

Background/Aims: To evaluate the clinical, biochemical and histologica l implications of a concomitant HGV infection in ''HCV-related'' chron ic liver disease, Methods: Eighty-three HCV-RNA positive patients with chronic liver disease were tested for GBV-C/HGV coinfection by hemine sted PCR, Results: Twenty-two (26.5%) patients were found to be positi ve for GBV-C/HGV RNA. GBV-C/HGV+ patients differed significantly from GBV-C/HGV-ones for younger age, higher frequency of history of drug ad diction, which in turn might favor coinfection with interferon-sensiti ve HCV genotypes (3a), and increased probability of long-term response to interferon, GBV-C/HGV infection appears to have no responsibility for specific aspects of HCV infection such as biochemical or histologi cal cholestatic features, lymphoid follicles, symptomatic cryoglobulin emia or presence of serum autoantibodies, including LKM1. It does not worsen the HCV-related disease (ALT levels and histological activity) and does not significantly interfere with HCV infection, as explored b y the number of hepatocytes positive for HCV antigens, The amount of s teatosis (mean score) was shown to be higher in GBV-C/HGV+ patients, A virological follow up was performed in 17 interferon-treated GBV-C/HG V+ patients On the whole, GBV-C/HGV seems to be as sensitive to IFN tr eatment as HCV: but recurrence after withdrawal is more frequent, In s pite of this, ALT levels often remain normal after treatment withdrawa l. Conclusions: The present data suggest that GBV-C/HGV infection, apa rt from more marked liver steatosis, does not modify the overall pictu re of chronic hepatitis due to HCV infection.