Potential role of SEN virus on liver enzyme abnormalities in patients positive for hepatitis C virus with or without HIV infection

Abstract

A novel single-stranded DNA virus named SEN virus (SENV), which was initially cloned from the plasma of an HIV-positive patient in a cohort we previously studied [1], has been observed in patients suffering from acute and chronic liver diseases of unknown etiology [2]. However, the possible role of SENV in hepatic inflammation is not clear [3]. Phylogenetic analysis of SENV has demonstrated the existence of eight subtypes (A–H), with the SENV H and D subtypes being associated with liver disease more frequently [4, 5]. The epidemiology and clinical implications of SENV infection are currently being investigated. Recently, we demonstrated a lack of negative impact of SENV on the clinical progression of HIV infection [6] and the apparent dynamism of SENV infection, with both clearance and reinfection appearing over time [7]. In HIV-infected patients, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the era of highly effective antiretroviral therapy, and hepatic impairment is aggravated by toxicity due to antiretroviral drugs [8]. Thus, it seems necessary to investigate whether SENV has an impact on patients coinfected with HCV and HIV with or without antiretroviral therapy. The goals of the retrospective, cross-sectional study reported here were to investigate the influence that SENV infection (subtypes A, B, D, and H) may exert on the biochemical hepatic features of patients affected by HIV and chronic HCV in the presence or absence of antiretroviral treatment. As a secondary objective, we also studied the associated charac