Background: The cause of fulminant hepatic failure in children remains unknown, but a viral origin has been suspected in most cases. The recently discovered blood-borne virus, hepatitis G, has been suggested as a possible causative agent.
Method: Six consecutive children who underwent liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure were studied. The children were tested for hepatitis G virus antibodies and hepatitis G virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction after excluding other causes of fulminant hepatic failure.
Results: No evidence of hepatitis G virus infection was found in these patients.
Conclusion: Hepatitis G virus is unlikely to be a common cause of fulminant hepatic failure in pediatric patients from the upper midwestern United States.