Epidemiology

GB virus C shows diverse genotypes in patients coinfected with HIV

Last Updated: 2003-05-01 11:00:00 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - HIV patients coinfected with GB virus C (GBV-C) could have a differing degree of protection, depending on the particular genotype involved, researchers suggest in the May issue the Journal of Medical Virology.

Dr. A. Scott Muerhoff of Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, and colleagues note that recent studies indicate that GBV-C coinfection may have a beneficial effect in HIV patients (see Reuters Health report February 13, 2003.)

This consists of slower progression to AIDS and prolonged survival time. Some studies have also indicated that there is a significant association between such coinfection and increased CD4+ cell counts.

To gain insight into the effects of various GBV-C subtypes, the researchers studied 35 coinfected patients. In total, 33 underwent GBV-C genotyping. Of these, 2 were infected with genotype 1, 12 with genotype 2a, and 19 with genotype 2b.

In a subgroup of 25 for whom clinical data were available, the investigators found that "CD4 cell counts tended to be lower in patients infected with genotype 2a compared with those with genotype 2b."

Thus, they suggest larger studies are required "to determine whether a particular GBV-C genotype is associated with reduced morbidity or mortality among HIV-coinfected patients."

J Med Virol 2003;70:141-149.