Chams V, Fournier-Wirth C, Chabanel A, Hervé P, Trépo C
Etablissement français du sang, 100 avenue de Suffren, 75015 Paris, France.
Transfus Clin Biol. 2003 Sep;10(4):292-306. doi: 10.1016/s1246-7820(03)00095-8.
GB virus-C alias "hepatitis" virus G was discovered in 1995 as a putative causative virus of non A-E hepatitis. It is a very common virus found in 1 to 5% of eligible blood donors in developed countries. Numerous studies over seven years led to the exclusion of its role as a significant etiological agent of hepatitis. Its in vivo replication site is still unknown. Its direct involvement in the induction of significant hepatic or extra-hepatic diseases could not be demonstrated. However, coinfections with other viruses may contribute to changes in the evolution of both liver disease (negatively) and HIV/AIDS (favourably). Today, no country has decided to screen GBV-C in blood donors. However, more studies are necessary before the absence of influence of GBV-C infection on human health in the context of other viral infections could be confirmed definitely. This article is a review of the literature on a possible involvement of GBV-C in pathologies whether associated or not to other infections.
