Objective: To evaluate whether transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) replicates in the liver and to analyze the relationship between TTV and cryptogenic hepatitis.
Methods: A 3.2 kb TTV fragment was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 31 serum samples of patients with cryptogenic hepatitis who came from a school where was in an outbreak area of cryptogenic hepatitis during 1996 and in 30 healthy individuals. A hybridization/nuclease protection assay was used to detect positive-strand TTV fragment from the liver specimens of the 7 patients.
Results: TTV DNA was detected in serum samples from 30 of 31 (96.9%) patients and from 18 of 30 (60%) healthy individuals, respectively. There was significant difference in the prevalence of TTV infection between the two groups. Based on hybridization/ nuclease protection assays, we detected positive-strand TTV fragment in all of 7 liver specimens of the patients.
Conclusions: TTV is related possibly to cryptogenic hepatitis. TTV can replicate in the liver. Although TTV only causes mild liver damage, a few patients will suffer from chronic hepatitis.