Prevalence of Sero-Molecular Markers of Hepatitis C and B Viruses among Patients with β-Thalassemia Major in Northern West Bank, Palestine

الملخص EN

Background.

HCV and HBV present a great challenge in the management of β-thalassemia patients.

Objective.

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of both HBV and HCV in multitransfused-dependent β-thalassemia patients in northern West Bank, Palestine, using sero-molecular markers.

Methods.

Serum sample from 139 multitransfused β-thalassemia patients were tested for HBV and HCV markers including HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBV-DNA, and anti-HCV and HCV-RNA.

Demographic data and selected clinical parameters were collected by means of a questionnaire and from the patients’ medical files.

Results and Conclusion.

The mean (±SD) age of patients was 18.1 years (±10.6).

The overall prevalence of the HCV was 10% (14/139), which is 50 times higher than the normal Palestinian population (0.2%).

Of which, 3 were positive for anti-HCV alone, 7 positives for HCV-RNA alone, and 4 positives for both anti-HCV and PCR-RNA.

On the other hand, low prevalence of HBV was detected at a level of 0.7% (1/139).

Only one patient had HCV-HBV coinfection.

Twenty-five patients (19%) were positive for anti-HBc, while 99 (71%) were immune with the anti-HBs level above 10 IU/mL.

Anti-HBc was insignificantly high (P=0.07) in HCV-positive cases.

In conclusion, the prevalence of HCV among β-thalassemia patients is considered high compared to normal population.

Determination of HCV prevalence should be based on the detection of both HCV-RNA and anti-HCV.

On the contrary, HBV showed a low prevalence.

A follow-up schedule and administration of booster dose of HBV vaccine is strongly recommended for β-thalassemia patients whose anti-HBs level <10 IU/ml.