Does SEN-V and other non-A-E hepatotropic viruses contribute to the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Approximately 10-20% of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are at risk of progressing to cirrhosis. The cause of such progression is unclear. SEN-V is a hepatotropic virus that has been associated with more severe and advanced liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infections. In this study we tested 32 NAFLD patients for evidence of SEN-V infection and correlated the results with histologic findings. The results of the study revealed similar disease severity and stage of progression in SEN-V positive and negative patients. Although not supportive of our hypothesis, the possibility that SEN-V and/or other non-A-E hepatotropic viruses contribute to the development and course of NAFLD is discussed.