Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections among thalassaemic patients in Najaf City

الملخص EN

ELISA test was used to study the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections among 120 thalassaemic children attending thalassaemic unit at the Maternity and Children Hospital / Nafaf city during the period January 2000-Marvh 2001.

Hepatitis B marker (HbsAg) was positive in 3 patients (2.5 %).

Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 18 (15 %) patients; 12 (66.6 %) males and 6 (33 .3%) females.

The frequency of cases was correlated with increasing age.

None of the infected patients showed stigmata of chronic liver disease.

Over function tests showed no abnormality in 15 (83.3 %) of them.

There was a positive correlation between frequency of blood transfusion / year and the increased incidence of infection with HCV.

History of splenectomy was positive in 10 (8.3 %) patients, 6 (60 %) of them had positive anti-HCV antibodies in their sera.

During one-year follow up, there was one death attributed to acute hepatic failure and encephalopathy.

We concluded, that our thalassaemic patients are exposed to HCV infection Although serious liver diseases are not common, the health establishment should consider regular screening of blood units for both HBV and HCV and examine the carries of HCV regularly for early signs of chronic liver disease.