Objective: To study the infection due to hepatitis G virus (HGV) in liver tissues of patients with acute hepatitis and to investigate its pathogenicity.
Methods: HGV NS5 antigen was detected by using immunohistochemical method in the liver biopsy tissues of patients with acute hepatitis but serologically negative to hepatitis virus antigens from A to E. The clinical and pathological data were also analysed.
Results: 37 samples were tested, HGV NS5 antigen was detected in 14 (37.8%). 4 of the 14 were positive for HGV NS5 antigen alone (acute hepatitis G group) and 10 other cases were also positive for HBsAg, hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 antigen or EB virus antigen (superinfection group). 7 cases were HBsAg positive alone (acute hepatitis B group) and the remaining 16 cases were negative for all the antigens mentioned above (non-A - G hepatitis group). There was no difference among the 4 groups in the detecting rate of Fas antigen, histological activity index (HAI), serum alanine transferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBil).
Conclusion: It is suggested that HGV appears to play some role in the pathogenesis of acute viral hepatitis and the degree of liver injury in acute hepatitis G may be as severe as that of hepatitis caused by other types of viruses.