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Correlation of interferon treatment response with GBV‐C/HGV genomic RNA and anti‐envelope 2 protein antibody
Author(s) -
Tanaka Takeshi,
Hess Georg,
Schlueter Volker,
Zdunek Dietmar,
Tanaka Satoshi,
Kohara Michinori
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199904)57:4<370::aid-jmv8>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - gb virus c , antibody , virology , alanine transaminase , medicine , flaviviridae , hepatitis c virus , virus , interferon , ribavirin , transaminase , alpha interferon , immunology , gastroenterology , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
The clinical significance of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV‐C/HGV) co‐infection was studied retrospectively in 100 consecutive patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. All 100 patients had been treated with interferon‐α (IFN‐α). Co‐infection with GBV‐C/HGV and HCV was detected in 10 of the 100 patients (10%) and anti‐envelope 2 region (anti‐E2) antibody was detected in 25 patients. None of the patients with GBV‐C/HGV RNA had anti‐E2 antibody. Co‐infected patients were younger ( P < .005) and their serum transaminase levels were lower than HCV‐only infected patients ( P < .01). In 7 of the 10 co‐infected patients, HCV RNA was eradicated from serum after IFN‐α treatment and normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels continued in 6 of these 7 patients. In one patient who was negative for HCV RNA but positive for GBV‐C/HGV RNA, the ALT level relapsed transiently. The rate of clearance of HCV and normalization of the ALT level was significantly higher in co‐infected patients than in HCV‐only infected patients ( P < .05). GBV‐C/HGV RNA disappeared from 6 of the 10 co‐infected patients (60%) upon cessation of IFN‐α treatment. However, continuous clearance of GBV‐C/HGV was observed in only two patients and anti‐E2 antibody could not be detected in the serum of these patients. These results indicate that co‐infected patients tend to be younger and more sensitive to IFN‐α treatment. However, long‐term clearance of GBV‐C/HGV after IFN‐α treatment may be difficult. Moreover, anti‐E2 antibody may act to neutralize GBV‐C/HGV. J. Med. Virol. 57:370–375, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.