SEN virus infection does not affect the progression of non-A to -E liver disease

SEN virus (SEN V) was discovered recently as a potential causative agent of non-A, non-B, non-C, and non-E (non-A to -E) hepatitis. The aim of this study was to obtain information about the prevalence of this virus in Japan and its association with non-A to -E liver disease. Sixty-seven patients hospitalized for non-A to -E liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma (19 patients), cirrhosis (7 patients), chronic hepatitis (18 patients), and acute hepatitis (23 patients), were tested, along with 49 blood donors. The patients were admitted to Nihon University Hospital between 1991 and 1998. SEN V DNA was detected by a nested polymerase chain reaction, targeting the 5' untranslated region. SEN V DNA was detected in 14 of 49 (28.6%) blood donors and in 33 of 67 (49.3%) patients with non-A to -E liver disease. The prevalence of SEN V DNA was similar among patients with various liver diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (42.1%), cirrhosis (57.1%), chronic hepatitis (55.6%) and acute hepatitis (47.8%) and among blood donors (28.6%). There were no significant differences in the clinical profiles of patients with SEN V DNA-positive or -negative chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the clinical profiles between patients with SEN V DNA-positive and -negative acute hepatitis. In conclusion, SEN V infection is present among many blood donors and is common in patients with non-A to -E liver disease. There are insufficient data to prove a causal role for SEN virus infection in non-A to -E liver disease.