SEN virus does not affect treatment response in hepatitis C virus coinfected patients but SEN virus response depends on SEN virus DNA concentration.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the effect of SEN virus (SENV) infection on a combination therapy including interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) or pegylated-IFN with ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis and the effect of a combination therapy on SENV.


METHODS
SENV DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Quantitative analysis was done for SENV H DNA.


RESULTS
Twenty-one (22%) of 95 patients were positive for SENV DNA. There was no difference in clinical and biochemical parameters between patients with HCV infection alone and coinfected patients. The sustained response rate for HCV clearance after combination therapy did not differ between patients with SENV (52%) and without SENV (50%, n.s.). SENV DNA was undetectable in 76% of the initially SENV positive patients at the end of follow-up. SENV H response to combination therapy was significantly correlated with SENV DNA level (P=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SENV infection had no influence on the HCV sustained response rate to the combination therapy. Response rate of SENV to the combination therapy depends on SENV DNA level.
Sagir
Abdurrahman
A
Klinik fur Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Infektiologie, Universitatsklinikum Dusseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany. sagir@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Adams
Ortwin
O
Kirschberg
Oliver
O
Erhardt
Andreas
A
Heintges
Tobias
T
Haussinger
Dieter
D
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a