GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA load in immunodeficient individuals and in immunocompetent individuals

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the mean plasma GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA load in groups of GBV-C/HGV-infected individuals with varied immune status and to determine the most frequent patterns of evolution of the plasma GBV-C/HGV RNA load over time during the natural history of infection. The mean plasma GBV-C/HGV RNA load observed was, from the lowest to the highest: 5.21 log in immunodepressed multiply-transfused patients, 6.45 log in HIV-positive individuals, 6.66 log in immunocompetent multiply-transfused patients, and 6.71 log in blood donors. The difference was significant between the four groups (P < 0.0001). The most frequent pattern of evolution of the plasma GBV-C/HGV RNA load was as follows: after the primary GBV-C/HGV infection, the viral load was elevated from the onset; then, a high, persistent and relatively steady viral RNA level was the rule; and when it occurred, the loss of viremia was not preceded by a decrease before recovery from GBV-C/HGV infection.

Prevalence of Infection and Genotypes of GBV‐C/HGV among Homosexual Men

“…While the GBV-C/HGV level of genotype 3 seemed higher than that of genotype 2, the difference was not statistically significant (Pϭ0.08) in this study. The average viral load for all the GBV-C/HGVpositive samples (4.06ϫ10 5 copies/ml) corresponded to that reported for patients with immune deficiency (8).…”

Interactions between GB virus type C and HIV

“…GB virus C viremia has been shown to persist for years in the absence of clinical symptoms in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed people [49,50]. Lefrère et al [49] reviewed data from 28 GBV-C-HIV-coinfected people and 11 GBV-C-positive, multiply tranfused people without HIV infection.…”

“…Lefrère et al [49] reviewed data from 28 GBV-C-HIV-coinfected people and 11 GBV-C-positive, multiply tranfused people without HIV infection. GBV-C RNA persisted in serum for an average of 7.6 years in the HIV-coinfected group (range, 3-12 years) and 3.5 years (range, 1-8 years) in the HIV-negative group [49].…”

“…Lefrère et al [49] reviewed data from 28 GBV-C-HIV-coinfected people and 11 GBV-C-positive, multiply tranfused people without HIV infection. GBV-C RNA persisted in serum for an average of 7.6 years in the HIV-coinfected group (range, 3-12 years) and 3.5 years (range, 1-8 years) in the HIV-negative group [49]. Toyoda et al [16] documented persistent GBV-C viremia extending over at least 5 years in 11 HIV-infected hemophiliacs, and Lefrère et al [49] reported persistent GBV-C viremia over an 8.…”

What you need to know about GB virus C

“…Consistent with this observation, GBV-C has been cultivated at least transiently in vitro in liver-and lymphocyte-derived cell lines such as Huh-7, HepG2, Daudi cells (an interferonresistant CD4 cell line), MT-2 cells, and MOLT-4 cells [24]. GBV-C replication in vivo produces viral RNA levels of 10 2 to 10 7 copies/mL serum in immunocompetent hosts, 10 4 to 10 7 copies/mL serum in immunocompromised hosts [23,28], and up to 10 8 copies/mL in HIV-infected hosts [29,30].…”