title: Clinical significance of SEN virus infection in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The SEN virus (SENV) has been identified as a putative new hepatitis virus. This study was conducted to clarify the clinical significance of SENV infection in patients on haemodialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 189 patients on maintenance haemodialysis and 60 healthy controls were enrolled. Of the 189 patients, 154 were followed up for 2 years. SENV DNA (genotypes D and H) was measured by means of polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SENV infection was significantly (P=0.012) more prevalent in patients on haemodialysis (38%) than in controls (22%). SENV infection was not associated with the amount of transfusion or duration of haemodialysis, while hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was significantly associated with both of these factors. Elevation of alanine aminotransferase was significantly associated with HCV, but not with SENV viraemia. Of the 154 patients who were followed up, 63 (41%) remained negative, 34 (22%) gained positivity, 28 (18%) lost it and 29 (19%) remained positive for SENV infection. Episodes of alanine aminotransferase elevation were recorded for 3% of the patients who incurred SENV infection and this rate was similar to that observed in patients who were continuously negative for SENV infection (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SENV infection was common in patients on haemodialysis. No evidence was obtained that suggested involvement of the hepatitis virus in the pathogenicity of SENV.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takeji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Toshiyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hora
authors.forename: Kendo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiyosawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase