Molecular analysis of hepatitis G virus and TT virus in pediatric population

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Both hepatitis G virus (HGV) and TT virus (TTV) are transfusion-transmissible agent. Thus, we investigate both viruses at the same time in hemophilics and pediatric bone marrow transplant recipients. Concerning HGV infection, the objectives of our study was to clarify the prevalence and natural course in these pediatric patients. HGV are prevalent in hemophiliacs treated with unsterilized coagulation factor concentrates, however in contrast to hepatitis C virus Infection, spontaneous recovery was frequently observed in HGV infection (Br J Haematol 1998, 102 : 616-621). In children treated for hematological malignancy, these immunosuppressed patients can apparently recover from HGV infection without detectable anti-E2 antibody and some patients who supposedly recovered from HGV infection can nonetheless suffer exacerbation when subsequently immunosuppressed during chemotherapy or bone marrow trasplantation (Blood 1999, 93 : 721-727).Next, we examined whether and how did TTV infect in children. The high incidence of TTV viremia in healthy population including small infants without transfusion made it clear for the virus initially identified as a transfusion-transmitted agent to transmit non-parenterally more frequently (Lancet 1998, 9136 : 1309-1310). We also found a higher prevalence of active TTV infection in our haemophiliac cohort than that in age-matched normal control and suspect the possible transmission of TTV through heat-treated blood products (Lancet 1998, 9136 : 1308-1309).