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Age related prevalence of hepatitis G virus in South Africans.

ABSTRACT: AIM: To investigate the age related prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection and its mode of transmission in relation to hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) co-infection in South African blacks. METHODS: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect active infection, using primers for the 5'-NCR, NS5a, and NS3 regions. Antibodies to HGV envelope-2 protein (anti-E2), which measures past infection, were also sought. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of active infection was 116/580 (20%). A higher prevalence was noted in HBsAg carriers (28/106; 26.4%) and HCV positive subjects (25/82; 30.5%). In contrast to developed countries, active and past infection was seen in 12.9% and 12.1% of the general population, respectively (subjects negative for HBsAg and anti-HCV markers and with normal alanine aminotransferase values), with a total prevalence of 21.1% (52/248). Viraemia and anti-E2 were almost mutually exclusive. The distribution of viraemia by age was: < or = 15 years, 20/223 (9.0%); 16-35 years, 42/147 (28.6%); > or = 36 years, 37/151 (24.5%), with a significant difference (p = 0.001) in age related prevalence. A similar trend was observed for the prevalence of past infection in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: HGV infection begins in childhood and increases with age in South Africa, but transmission is largely independent of HBV and HCV. No association was found between HGV viraemia and hepatitis, or with co-infection with either HBV or HCV.

SUBMITTER: Mphahlele MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC501570 | biostudies-other | 1999 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Age related prevalence of hepatitis G virus in South Africans.

Mphahlele M J MJ Aspinall S S Spooner R R Carman W F WF

Journal of clinical pathology 19991001 10

<h4>Aim</h4>To investigate the age related prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection and its mode of transmission in relation to hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) co-infection in South African blacks.<h4>Methods</h4>Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect active infection, using primers for the 5'-NCR, NS5a, and NS3 regions. Antibodies to HGV envelope-2 protein (anti-E2), which measures past infection, were also sought.<h4>Results</h4>The overall prevalence of a ...[more]

PMID: 10674033

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Project description:BackgroundHIV-infected individuals are at increased risk of tissue inflammation and accelerated vascular aging ('inflamm-aging'). Abnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP) rhythms such as non-dipping may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in HIV infected individuals. However, little data exists on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and measures of vascular stiffness in the black African HIV infected population.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis of otherwise well, HIV infected outpatients on ART for >5 years. Study assessments included: 24hr ABP monitoring, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) using a AtCor Medical Sphygmocor device, fasting lipogram, oral glucose tolerance test, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and anthropometric data. Patients completed a questionnaire of autonomic symptoms. CD4+ counts and viral loads were obtained from the National Laboratory results system.ResultsSixty seven black participants were included in the analysis of whom 91% (n = 61) were female with a mean age of 42.2 ± 8.6 years. The median duration on ART was 7.5 years (IQR = 6-10), 84% were virally supressed and the median CD4 count was 529.5cells/mm3 (IQR = 372.0-686.5). The majority (67%) were classified as overweight and 76% had an increased waist circumference, yet only 88% of participants were normotensive. A hsCRP level in the high cardiovascular risk category was found in 68% of participants. The prevalence of non-dipping BP was 65%. Interestingly, there was no association on multivariable analysis between dipping status and traditional risk factors for non-dipping BP, such as: obesity, autonomic dysfunction and older age.ConclusionThis relatively young cross-sectional sample of predominantly normotensive, but overweight black women on effective ART >5 years showed: a high prevalence of non-dipping BP, inflammation and vascular stiffness. Causality cannot be inferred but cardiovascular risk reduction should be emphasized in these patients.

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Age related prevalence of hepatitis G virus in South Africans.

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Age related prevalence of hepatitis G virus in South Africans.

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