Detection and genetic analysis of TT virus in hemodialysis patients / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the prevalence and pathogenesis of TT virus (TTV) in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Serum TTV DNA was tested in 69 hemodialysis patients from our hospital by nested-PCR using primers from a conservative region of TTV genenome, genetic analysis and detection of hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) and the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also carried out simultaneously. Results: The overall prevalence of TTV viremia was 27.5%. The PCR-amplified gene fragment from one patient was sequenced, and its gene sequence homologies with GH1,TA278, TTVCHN1 and TTVCHN2 ranged from 89% to 100%, its deduced amino acid sequence ranged from 87% to 100%. There was no significant difference of TTV prevalence between anti-HCV positive and negative patients. No significant elevation of ALT was found in all patients. Conclusion: High prevalence of TTV infection is found among hemodialysis patients, and TTV infection has no significant association with HCV infection or elevation of ALT.