Prevalence and viral persistence of TT virus in patients on hemodialysis

The aim of this study was toevaluate the prevalence of TT virus (TTV) in 10 7 hemodialysis patients and 100 healthy individuals. Sixteen percent of hem odialysis patients and 2% of the control population were TTV positive (P<0. 001). Sex, time on dialysis, transfusions, and alanine aminotransferase lev els were not related to the presence of TTV DNA. TTV was more frequent in p atients 50 to 70 (12/51) years of age and persisted in the serum of six of nine patients 8 months later. TTV was found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of all patients with chronic infection, and sequence variation was n oted in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two patients, No relation ship between TTV infection and hepatitis was observed. Viral persistence an d nonparenteral trans mission may be possible in patients on hemodialysis.