COMPARISON OF TTV INFECTION IN CHILDREN
WITH AND WITHOUT LIVER DISEASE
Gurakan F, Odemis E, Ergunay K, Yuce A, Ozen H, Kocak N
Department of Pediatric
Gastroenterology and Department of Microbiology, Hacettepe University,
School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
Objectives: To clarify the role of TTV in children with liver disease of unknown
etiology and chronic hepatitis B.
Methods: Nested PCR using TTV specific primers was used to detect TTV DNA in
sera.
Results: TTV was detected in 3 of 18 chronic hepatitis B (16.7%), 2 of 17
hepatitis B carrier (11.8%), and 2 of 17 cryptogenic chronic liver disease
(11.8%) patients.The prevalence of TTV in control group without liver
disease was 2.5%. The
infection rate difference was insignificant among the liver disease
patients, as well as the control group compared with the patient group. TTV
frequency was similar in various age groups. When HBs Ag positive children
were compared with negative ones, TTV frequency was not statistically
different (5/36, 13.9% in HBsAg +, 3/56, 5.4% in HBs Ag ¨C). In comparison of TTV positive and
negative patients, no statistical difference was detected in respect to
age, gender, history of surgery, parenteral treatment, transfusion of blood
and blood products and presence of hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, jaundice,
and transaminase values.
Conclusions: It is unlike to suggest an etiologic role of TTV in cryptogenic liver
disease of children and also
to suggest an effect on clinical course or liver damage.