[High prevalence of TT virus(TTV) in patients with non A to non G fulminant hepatitis: differences of clinical features and prognosis between TTV positive and negative patients].

We detected TTV-DNA in sera from 36 patients with fulminant hepatitis(FH) and evaluated differences in clinical features and prognosis between TTV-DNA positive and negative patients with nonA-nonG FH. TTV-DNA in sera was measured by nested PCR. Twenty of 36 patients with FH were diagnosed nonA-nonG FH. The TTV-DNA in sera was detected in 14 patients(38.9%) with FH, 9(64%) showed nonA-nonG FH and 3 were HBV FH and 2 were drug-induced FH. Although we compared clinical features(gender, age, distribution history of blood transfusion, initial symptoms of hepatitis, and liver function tests) and prognosis between TTV positive and negative patients with nonA-nonG FH, there were no significant differences between the two groups. These data suggest that although TTV may be a infectious agent related to nonA-nonG FH, further study is needed to clarify the role of TTV in the pathogenesis of FH.