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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI

10.3906/sag-0709-32

Abstract

Aim: A recently discovered DNA virus (SEN virus) has been assumed to be responsible for post-transfusion hepatitis in humans. Phylogenetic analysis of the SEN virus (SEN-V) has revealed the existence of 8 different genotypes (A-H). SEN-V genotype-H (SENV-H) and SEN-V genotype-D (SENV-D) have been described as most closely associated with post-transfusion hepatitis. So far, it is unclear whether patients on maintenance haemodialysis are at increased risk for acquiring the SEN virus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of SENV-D and SENV-H among patients on maintenance haemodialysis. Materials and Methods: Serum samples derived from 100 haemodialysed patients were examined for SENV-D and SENV-H viraemia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One hundred and twenty serum samples were obtained from healthy blood donors, who served as the control group. Results: The prevalence of SENV-D was 33% (n = 33) while that of SENV-H was 22% (n = 22) among the patients on maintenance haemodialysis. The prevalence of SENV-D was 5% (n = 6) while that of SENV-H was 20% (n = 24) among the healthy blood donors. Our data suggest that SEN-V infection was significantly more prevalent (P < 0.05) in patients on haemodialysis (55%) than in control subjects (25%). Conclusions: These findings reveal that patients on maintenance haemodialysis are at risk of SEN-V infection. Another important finding is the relatively high prevalence (25%) of SEN-V in healthy blood donors in our region.

Keywords

SEN-V, SENV-D, SENV-H, haemodialysis, blood donor, PCR

First Page

397

Last Page

403

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