Background: We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in 87 kidney transplant recipients.
Methods: Infection was diagnosed with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using primers in the NS3 region of the viral genoma.
Results: Twenty-four patients (27.5%) were HGV RNA positive (HGV+ group) and 63 patients (72.5%) were HGV RNA negative (HGV- group). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for age, sex, transplantation and hemodialysis duration, number of kidney transplantations, serum creatinine, history of transfusions, hepatitis B and C virus infections, and percentage of patients having suffered from acute rejection. Acute and chronic hepatitis were not more prevalent in the HGV+ group than in the HGV- group.
Conclusions: HGV infection is highly prevalent in kidney transplant recipients but does not alter liver or kidney functions. HGV contamination may be linked to nosocomial transmission during long-term hemodialysis.