RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the pathogenic effect of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection on hepatic failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the RT-PCR and EIA techniques to detect HGV RNA and anti-HGV in sera of hepatic failure patients and compare them with their liver function and mortality rates.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference about the positive rates of HGV among acute hepatic failure, subacute hepatic failure and chronic hepatic failure groups (X(2)=2.54, P>0.05). The level of ALT in HGV-positive group was slightly lower than that in HGV-negative group. The concentration of bilirubin and globulin was higher in HGV-positive group than HGV-negative group, and the concentration of albumin in HGV-positive group was significantly lower than that in HGV-negative group (t=2.59, P<0.05). The mortality rate in HGV-positive group was significantly lower than that in HGV-negative group (X(2)=4.68, 0.01<P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The virulence of HGV is mild, and the HGV infection does not aggravate hepatic failure.</p>