Japanese journal of infectious diseases
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Jpn. J. Infect. Dis. · Feb 2006
Prevalence and clinical significance of HGV/GBV-C infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.
Hepatitis G virus/GB virus-C (HGV/GBV-C) is a newly identified Flavivirus. Its clinical significance in chronic hepatitis B and C remains controversial. Infection with HGV/GBV-C was surveyed in 500 blood donors, 130 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 173 with hepatitis C, with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). ⋯ Clinical and virological characteristics were comparable between those with and without coinfection of HGV/GBV-C and hepatitis C. The seroconversion rate was high. Coinfection of HGV/GBV-C with hepatitis B or C does not affect disease severity, but accelerates the progression of chronic liver disease and the development of HCC.