Hepatitis G Is common in AIDS patients but Is not associated with abnormal liver function tests or other clinical syndromes

Intro: Hepatitis G virus (Hep G) is a new flavivirus, of unknown clinical significance, found in 1-4% of blood donors but more often in some immunocompromised groups. Aims: Determine the prevalence of Hep G plasma RNA in AIDS patients and ascertain any relationship to clinical or laboratory abnormalities. Method: Frozen plasma samples from 194 HlV+ patients with a CD4 cell count <200 /uL were tested for Hep G RNA by RT-PCR. Results: 44/196 samples (23%) were positive for Hep G RNA. Positive and negative groups did not differ in age, sex, race, injecting drug use or number of transfusion exposures. Male homosexuals were less likely to be infected with Hep G (OR=0.39, 95% CI =0.19-0.82). Hep BsAg was associated with Hep G infection (OR=7.7,95% CI=2.4-250) but Hep C antibody was not. Mean and median values for liver function tests did not differ between the groups neither did hematologic values, creatinine, occurrence of opportunistic infections nor the frequency of neuropathy, Mean CD4 cell counts and HIV1 plasma RNA levels were comparable in the two groups, but the mean circulating CDS cell count in the Hep G positive group (850±69u/L) was higher than in the negative group (680±38u/L) p<0.05. Conclusions: Hep G infection is common in Cleveland AIDS patients. It is positively associated with Hep Bs Ag and negatively with male homosexuality. In this population, Hep G infection is not associated with liver dysfunction, hématologie disorders or AIDS complications. Persons with Hep G tend to have higher CDS cell counts. Hep G has undetermined clinical significance.