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OBJECTIVE: Patients on peritoneal dialysis are at high risk of blood-borne infections due to frequent blood transfusions. We aimed to determine and compare the prevalence of SENVD and SENV-H variants of the SEN virus (SENV) in these patients.
MATERIAL and METHOD: A total of 143 subjects, 43 on peritoneal dialysis and 100 healthy controls, were included in this point-prevalence study. SENV-D and SENV-H DNAs were detected with the polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS: The prevalence of SENV-D was 23.2% in peritoneal dialysis patients. The prevalence of SENV-H being 20.9% in peritoneal dialysis patients was found to be higher than that of SENV-D. SENV-H prevalence was not significantly higher in our patient population compared with healthy subjects (16.0%). On the other hand, SENV-D was significantly more prevalent in all patient groups compared to healthy control subjects (5.0%). There was no association between SENV and HCV.
CONCLUSIONS: SEN virus infection, particularly SENV-D variant, has high prevalence in patients on peritoneal dialysis in Turkey. Care should be taken for SENV hepatitis and transmission of virus among these patients.