Prevalence of a novel DNA virus (TTV) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Background/Aims: A recently detected DNA virus (TTV) has been assumed to be responsible for posttransfusion hepatitis in humans. Until now it is uncle ar whether patients on maintenance hemodialysis are at increased risk of ac quiring TTV. Methods: Serum samples derived from 148 chronically hemodialyz ed patients were examined for TTV viremia by nested PCR. All serum specimen s were also investigated for viremia and for the presence of antibodies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) by PCR and serological assays, respectively. Results: The prevalence of TTV was d etermined to be 18.8% (n = 27), for HCV a prevalence of 15.4% (n = 22) and for GBV-C/HGV of 8.4% (n = 12) could be demonstrated. Parallel infection by TTV and HCV was detected in only 1.4% (n = 2) of the patients. In no serum sample could TTV and GBV-C/HGV be detected in parallel. None of the solely TTV-viremic individuals had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease . Conclusion: From our data we conclude that TTV viremia is widespread amon g hemodialysis patients and can be detected in 18.8%. Since no viremic pati ent had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease, the hepatitis-induc ing capacity of TTV remains unclear. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel .