Prevalence of Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) in Intravenous Immunoglobulin Recipients in the Czech Republic

Czech version

Authors: M. Sobotková ¹; J. Bartůňková ¹; J. Litzman ²; R. Zachová ¹; D. Jílek ³; O. Kryštůfková ⁴; V. Němeček ⁵; E. Vernerová ¹; A. Šedivá ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Ústav imunologie UK 2. LF a FN Motol, Praha ¹; Ústav klinické imunologie a alergologie, nemocnice u sv. Anny, Brno ²; Zdravotní ústav se sídlem v Ústí nad Labem ³; Revmatologický ústav, Praha ⁴; Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha ⁵
Published in: Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 55, 2006, č. 4, s. 136-139

Overview

The prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in the serum of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) recipients was studied and risk related to HGV positivity was considered. Although its pathogenicity is unclear, HGV is likely to cause liver disease or lymphoproliferation. Twenty (23 %) of 86 tested IVIG patients were HGV RNA positive. Of the HGV positive patients, three (15 %) showed mild elevation of liver enzymes and one (5 %) was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia prior to the institution of IVIG replacement. It can be concluded that the HGV prevalence among IVIG recipients is high but is not associated with signs of either liver disease or lymphoproliferation.

Key words:
hepatitis G virus – intravenous immunoglobulins – common variable immunodeficiency – X-linked agammaglobulinemia – hepatitis C virus – hepatitis B virus.

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Article was published in

Epidemiology, Microbiology, Immunology

2006 Issue 4