Prevalence of Hepatitis G Virus in Patients with Hemophilia and Their Steady Female Sexual Partners

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Abstract
Hepatitis G virus (HGV), also known as GB virus C, is a newly discovered Flavivirus that is transmissible by blood transfusion and other possible routes. To study the risk of sexual transmission of HGV in female sexual partners of men with hemophilia (n = 161 couples). Blood samples obtained from 11 medical centers were analyzed for (1) HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction; (2) antibodies to HGV by enzyme immunoassay; and (3) other viruses and T-cell counts by routine laboratory tests. Subjects completed a questionnaire that assessed sexual intercourse frequency, number of sexual partners, condom usage, sexually transmitted diseases, illicit drug usage, and needlestick or broken-glass injuries. The HGV infection (RNA ± antibody positive) prevalence was 48% among men and 21% among women. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV among men was 99%, 94%, and 86%, compared with 3%, 11%, and 12% among women, respectively. The odds ratio for HGV infection for women with an HGV-positive male sexual partner was 2.14 ( P = 0.06) without adjustment, and 2.77 ( P = 0.03) with adjustment for other variables, none of which were independently significant. These results suggest a low level of HGV sexual transmission.