Influence of TT virus on the clinical course of alcoholic liver disease

The sera of 43 patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) who abstained fr om. alcohol for 4 weeks, were tested for TT virus (TTV) DNA by polymerase c hain reaction (PCR) using three different primer pairs (UTR PCR, N22 PCR an d genotype-1 PCR). The clinical course of the TTV DNA-positive and -negativ e groups was compared. By UTR PCR which detects all TTV genotypes, TTV DNA was detected in 40 patients (93%). N22 PCR which detects primarily TTV geno types 1-6, detected TTV DNA in 17 patients (40%). The alanine aminotransfer ase (ALT) level 4 weeks after the start of abstinence was significantly hig her and the rate of change in ALT {[(ALT on admission - ALT 4 weeks after a bstinence)/(ALT on admission)] x 100} was lower in the patients who were po sitive by N22 PCR, than in those who were negative by N22 PCR. Twelve patie nts (28%) were positive for TTV genotype 1. In the TTV genotype 1-positive group, the ALT 4 weeks after the start of abstinence was significantly high er, and the improvement rates of ALT, gamma -glutamyl transpeptidase and al kaline phosphatase levels were lower than those in the TTV genotype 1-negat ive group. These results suggest that certain genotypes of TTV may interfer e with the improvement of liver function following the start of abstinence in ALD patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved .