| Theme |
Current Topics in Hepatitis viruses |
| Title |
Prevalence of Hepatitis G Virus Infection in Japan |
| Author |
Yoshiyuki Nakatsuji |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Eiji Tanaka |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Hepatitis G virus (HGV)is a new RNA virus that is most closely related to members of the Flaviviridae family. HGV RNA was found in only a low percentage of patients with either acute or chronic non-A-E hepatitis. HGV appears to be a co-infecting or superinfecting agent in 10 to 15% of HCV infections, and in 5 to 15% of HBV infections. The prevalence of HGV infection(0.8%) among voluntary blood donors in Japan is similar to that for HCV infection. A history of blood transfusion was obtained in 50 to 60% of HGV RNA positive subjects. HGV was also detected in approximately 10% of hemodialysis patients. Finally, isolated HGV infection appears to have a low disease burden. |