Evaluation of HGV Viremia Prevalence and Its Co-Infection with HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV-l in Hemophilic Patients of Southern Khorassan, Iran

Background and aims: the gb virus-c (gbv-c) and hepatitis g virus (hgv), collectively known as gbv-c/hgv andtransmitted through blood transfusion and blood components. a co-infection of hgv and hcv is often seen in patientswith hemophilia. the paucity of information about rate of gbv-c infection among hemophilic patients in iran promotedthe current study.methods: this study was performed on 80 hemophilic patients from south khorassan branch of iranian hemophiliasociety in birjand. all 80 serum samples were tested for hepatitis b surface antigen (hbs-ag), anti hcv, anti hiv, andanti htlv-l. all sera positive for hcvab were retested by recombinant immunoblot assay as a complementary test. also,serum hcv-rna, hcv genotyping and hgv-rna were detected.results: the prevalence of hgv-rna was 5% (4 of 80). the prevalence of anti hcv positive was 26.3% (21 of 80) andhcv- rna was detected in 80% (17 of 21) of these patients. co infection of hgv with hcv was 5%. hbsag and antihiv were negative in all of our patients. anti htlv-l was detected in one patient (1.25%).conclusions: hgv and hcv are prevalent in south khorassan hemophilic patients. prevalence of hgv infection is lessthan hcv but it is more prevalent than hbv, hivand htlv-l infection.