ABSTRACT
The prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection was assessed by the detection of viral genome and HGV E2 antibodies in hemodialysis patients from a dialysis unit with the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Slovenia. HGV RNA was detected in 7 (11.9%) and HGV E2 antibodies in 20 (33.9%) of 59 hemodialysis patients. One patient had detectable HGV RNA as well as HGV E2 antibodies in her serum sample at the time of the study. The total prevalence of HGV infection was 44.1%. Our results clearly indicate that the mere detection of HGV RNA in serum samples would seriously underestimate the real prevalence of HGV infection in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, when assessing the prevalence of HGV infection in hemodialysis patients, detection of both antibody and nucleic acid is requisite.
