Lack of Association Between TTV Viral Load and Aminotransferase Levels in Patients with Hepatitis C or Non-B-C

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 259 - 262
• Main Author: Hideaki Kato, Masashi Mizokami, Etsuro Orito, Tomoyoshi Ohno, Katsuo Hayashi, Tatsunori Nakano, Takanobu Kato, Yasuhito Tanaka, Fuminaka Sugauchi, Motokazu Mukaide, Ryuzo Ueda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS/HIV; Aminotransferase; Biological and medical sciences; DNA Virus Infections - diagnosis; DNA Virus Infections - physiopathology; DNA Viruses - isolation & purification; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis C, Chronic - enzymology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - virology; Hepatitis, Viral, Human - blood; Hepatitis, Viral, Human - enzymology; Hepatitis, Viral, Human - virology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Transaminases - blood; TT virus; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Viral Load; Human; Enzyme; Pathogenesis; Transferases; Hepatic disease; Exploration; Concentration; Infection; Liver function; Chronic; Microbiological investigation; Viral disease; Transaminases; Digestive diseases; Serum; Viral load; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0036-5548; 1651-1980
• DOI: 10.1080/00365540050165884

TT virus (TTV) is a newly identified un-enveloped single-stranded DNA virus. Although TTV was initially thought to be a new hepatitis virus, it is still unclear whether it causes hepatitis. To clarify the natural history and pathogenesis of TTV infection, serial serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis were analysed. TTV DNA was quantified by real-time detection polymerase chain reaction assay (RTD-PCR), which was adapted for TTV. Five patients with chronic hepatitis, 4 with hepatitis C and 1 with non-B-C, were studied. The study period ranged from 9 to 50 months. In 3 patients there were frequent increases in TTV DNA titres, but no concomitant elevation of the aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In 2 patients who were treated with interferon, the changes in TTV titres were not synchronized with those of the ALT levels. Thus, in cases of chronic hepatitis, no correlation was observed between the serum TTV DNA titres and the ALT levels.