The prevalence of hepatitis c and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in thalassemic patients in shiraz

Abstract EN

Background: Thalassemic patients are one of the high-risk groups of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

The study of HCV and HIV seroprevalence and some qualitative risk factors in this target group can be valuable for prevention of the infection.

Methods & Material: This study was undertaken in the year 1999 to determine the prevalence of HCV and HIV infection among thalassemic patients in Shiraz, Southern Iran.

A total of 147 patients (55.1% males, and 44.9% females with mean age of 13.62%±4.82 year) who received multiple blood transfusions were screened for HCV and HIV by ELISA-II method in Dastgheib Hospital in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Results: Forty of 147 subjects (27.2%) were positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV).

No antibody to HIV virus was detected in any of the subjects.

Jaundice was observed in 13.6% of HCV seropositive patients.

The duration and interval of blood transfusion did not reach the level of statistical significance when HCV seropositive subjects were compared with seronegative ones.

Serum protein, albumin, SGOT and SGPT were significantly higher in HCV positive patients but this difference was not significant for alkaline phosphates and bilirubin. Conclusion: Routine screening of blood donors with markedly decreases the incidence of transfusion infections due to HCV and HIV among recipients.