A novel DNA virus (SEN) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis: prevalence and clinical importance.
BACKGROUND
A recently discovered DNA virus (SEN) has been assumed to be responsible for posttransfusion hepatitis in humans. Phylogenetic analysis of SEN virus has revealed the existence of 8 different strains. Two of them (SEN virus strain H (SENV-H) and SENV-D) have been described as possible candidate viruses for inducing posttransfusion hepatitis. Until now, it is unclear whether patients on maintenance hemodialysis are on increased risk for acquiring SEN virus.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of SENV-H among patients on maintenance hemodialysis and to examine whether special measures have to be taken to prevent nosocomial spreading of the virus.


METHODS
Serum samples derived from 78 chronically hemodialysed patients were examined for SENV-H viremia by seminested polymerase chain reaction. A panel of 226 samples from healthy blood donors served as a control group.


RESULTS
The prevalence of SENV-H was determined to be 12.8% (n=10) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. This is nearly the same prevalence as in healthy blood donors (16.8%; n=38). None of the solely SENV-H-viremic individuals had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease. Enhanced severity of liver disease could not be observed in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus and SENV-H.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that SENV-H viremia is widespread among hemodialysis patients. Since no viremic patient had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease, in our setting the hepatitis-inducing capacity of SENV-H remains unclear. On the basis of our results, at present, we do not regard it as necessary to dialyse SENV-H-viremic patients on separate machines.
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Germany. mschroet@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Matthias
M
Schröter
Rainer
R
Laufs
Bernhard
B
Zöllner
Bärbel
B
Knödler
Peter
P
Schäfer
Heinz Hubert
HH
Feucht
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018136:Circoviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology