Aim: To determine the influence of TTV and SENV on histological findings and viral response in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C.
Background: The clinical impact of TTV or SENV coinfections in these patients remains unclear.
Methods: Serum and liver biopsy specimens from chronic hepatitis B and C patients, 107 with liver biopsy and 105 who had finished complete antiviral therapy, were investigated for the presence of TTV and SENV.
Results: The Ishak score determined from 107 liver biopsy samples compared according to TTV or SENV coinfection was similar. Among 39 chronic hepatitis C patients with and 43 without virological response, we have found 9 and 3 SENV positive (p < 0.05) and 18 and 28 TTV positive patients, respectively (not significant). However 11 of 32 biopsy samples obtained in the responder's group and 19 of 31 in non-responders were TTV positive (p < 0.05). No similar differences were observed among 23 chronic hepatitis B patients. TTV clearance after interferon therapy exceeded 80%, clearance of SENV 90%.
Conclusion: TTV or SENV infections did not negatively influence the severity of histological features or the antiviral response in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. Both viruses were highly sensitive to interferon therapy (Tab. 5, Ref. 29).