High Prevalence of TT Virus Viremia in Italian Patients, Regardless of Age, Clinical Diagnosis, and Previous Interferon Treatment

Abstract

The pathogenic potential of the newly discovered TT virus (TTV) is currently a matter of conjecture. Its presence was investigated in the serum of 660 patients, by polymerase chain reaction. TTV was detected in 50% of 221 patients with unselected pathologies, and no significant differences related to age, sex, or organ disease were noted. TTV was present at a significantly higher rate in hemophiliacs (73%) and at lower rates in patients with cirrhosis (30%) and rheumatoid arthritis (28%). Patients with other liver diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, or psoriasis or receiving hemodialysis had rates of infection similar to those in unselected patients. TTV-positive patients treated with interferon-alpha for underlying type C hepatitis showed no appreciable changes of TTV viremia levels. Type 1b was by far the most frequent viral genotype (92%), followed by types 2c (5%) and 1a (3%).