View source for Hepatitis G

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==Overview==
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'''Hepatitis G''' and GB virus C (GBV-C) are RNA viruses that were independently identified in 1995, and were subsequently found to be two isolates of the same virus. (GB-A and GB-B are probably [[Tamarin]] viruses, while GB-C infects humans.)<ref>[http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/hepG.html Hepatitis Central]</ref>

Although GBV-C was initially thought to be associated with chronic hepatitis, extensive investigation failed to identify any association between this virus and any clinical illness. 

GBV-C is, phylogenetically, closely related to hepatitis C virus, but appears to replicate primarily in lymphocytes, and poorly if at all in hepatocytes. 

The majority of immune-competent individuals appear to clear GBV-C viraemia within the first few years following infection and although the time interval between GBV-C infection and clearance of viraemia (detection of GBV-C RNA in plasma) is not known, infection may persist for decades in some individuals. 

Approximately 2% of healthy US blood donors are viraemic with GBV-C, and up to 13% of blood donors have antibodies to E2 protein, indicating prior infection. 

Parenteral, sexual and vertical transmission of GBV-C have all been documented, and because of shared modes of transmission, individuals infected with HIV are commonly co-infected with GBV-C. Among people with HIV infection, the prevalence of GBV-C viraemia ranges from 14 to 43%.<ref name="pmid16388494">{{cite journal |author=George SL, Varmaz D, Stapleton JT |title=GB virus C replicates in primary T and B lymphocytes |journal=J. Infect. Dis. |volume=193 |issue=3 |pages=451–4 |year=2006 |pmid=16388494 |doi=10.1086/499435}}</ref>

Some studies have suggested that co-infection with HGV will actually slow the progression of [[Hepatitis C]] and [[HIV]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-1293.2006.00366.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=hiv |title=Blackwell Synergy - HIV Med, Volume 7 Issue 3 Page 173-180, April 2006 (Article Abstract) |accessdate=2007-11-03 |format= |work=}}</ref>

==References==
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==External links==
*Hepatitis G described by Dr. Joseph Smith-dead link replaced with [http://web.archive.org/web/20041211001925/http://chclibrary.org/micromed/00050870.html Internet Archive link]
*[http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/hepG.html Hepatitis Central]
*[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1468-1293.2006.00366.x HIV Medicine]
*[http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/499435 The Journal of Infectious Diseases]



[[Category:Hepatitis|G]]

[[ca:Hepatitis G]]
[[de:GB-Viren]]
[[es:Hepatitis G]]
[[ja:G型肝炎]]
[[ms:Hepatitis G]]
[[zh:庚型肝炎]]

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