title: Effect on treatment outcome of coinfection with SEN viruses in patients with hepatitis C.
abstract: The newly discovered SEN D and SEN H viruses are transmitted parenterally and can cause post-transfusion hepatitis. We assessed whether coinfection of patients with chronic hepatitis C and SEN D or SEN H correlates with the outcome of treatment with interferon and ribavirin. Of 31 patients with hepatitis C studied, six were positive for SEN D and seven for SEN H (one was positive for both). All of those positive for SEN D and five of those positive for SEN H failed to respond to therapy. Overall response (RNA titre and alanine aminotransferase concentration after treatment) was lower in SEN-infected patients than uninfected patients (p=0.025). We conclude that coinfection with SEN viruses is frequent in chronic hepatitis C patients and might adversely affect the outcome of treatment with interferon and ribavirin.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rigas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wittkowski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lebovics
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase