Hepatitis C virus and GB virus C/hepatitis G virus viremia in Swedish blood donors with different alanine aminotransferase levels

Abstract

There was no significant difference in GBV-C/HGV viremia in the group with elevated ALT levels and the group with normal ALT levels. The frequency and subtype distribution in the present series were similar to those in other Western countries.

Prevalence of GBV‐C infection among dental personnel

“…The level of viraemia is also comparable to previous reports for blood donor populations in Scotland and elsewhere [Roth et al, 1997;Yoshikawa et al, 1997;Bjorkman et al, 1998;Blair et al, 1998;Love et al, 1999;Nordbo et al, 2000].…”

Assessment of Liver Disease and Biochemical and Immunological Markers in Swedish Blood Donors with Isolated GB Virus C/Hepatitis G Virus Viremia

“…Despite the widespread occurrence of GBV–C/HGV among blood donors, hepatitis in blood recipients has become rare since the introduction of blood donor screening for HBV and HCV, and in most identified cases of posttransfusion hepatitis non A–E, GBV–C/HGV cannot be detected [13]. In blood donors, no convincing association between elevated ALT levels and GBV–C/HGV viremia has been shown [1, 4]. However, these investigations have only included biochemical assessment of liver injury, and no data concerning liver histology or markers for other pathological conditions.…”

“…The blood donors in this investigation have previously been described in detail [4]. Briefly, serum samples were obtained from 577 voluntary blood donors at University Hospital, Malmö, in 1992–1993 and 1994 and were tested by PCR for HCV and GBV–C/HGV.…”

“…antinuclear, smooth muscle, mitochondrial, and anti–thyroid antibodies). GBV–C/HGV RNA was extracted and subjected to reverse transcription and amplification with a nested PCR method and detected, as described previously [4]. A commercial enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to the E2 protein of GBV–C/HGV (Anti–HGenv, Boehringer–Mannheim, Penzberg, Germany) was conducted and interpreted according to the instructions of the manufacturer.…”

“…Blood–borne and vertical routes of transmission are well documented [1, 2, 3]. Although GBV–C/HGV is commonly found in parenterally exposed individuals, it is also detected in 1–4% of blood donors [1, 2, 4]. At present, GBV–C/HGV viremia can only be detected by molecular techniques such as PCR [1, 2].…”