Influence of hepatitis G virus infection on the severity of liver disease and response to interferon-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Abstract
Dual infection with hepatitis G virus (HGV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common. The effect of HGV infection on chronic hepatitis C is not well known. To assess the prevalence of HGV infection; the effect of HGV infection on the clinical, virologic and histologic features of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha; and the influence of HGV infection on response to interferon-alpha therapy. Retrospective study. A university hospital in France. 228 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha (3 million U or 5 million U subcutaneously 3 times a week for 3, 6, or 12 months). Before initiation of treatment, serum HGV RNA and serum HCV RNA were detected with branched-DNA assays and HCV genotype was determined with a line probe assay. Serum HGV RNA and serum HCV RNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction at the end of treatment and 6 months after treatment. Infection with HGV was detected in 21% of patients and 32% of intravenous drug users. The median serum HGV RNA level was 33 x 10(6) genome equivalents/mL. Infection with HGV was more frequently found in men with a history of intravenous drug use and was associated with HCV genotype 3a (P = 0.02) independent of the source of infectio...Continue Reading
Citations
Acute hepatitis induced by alpha-interferon, associated with viral clearance, in chronic hepatitis C
Hepatitis G virus: molecular organization, methods of detection, prevalence, and disease association
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