Prevalence of hepatitis C in transfusion dependent thalassaemics & haemophilics.
Seventy thalassaemics (B = 37, EB = 33) and 20 haemophilics (A = 18, B = 1, C = 1) were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV). The seropositivity for anti-HCV in thalassaemics and haemophilics was 14.3 and 25 per cent respectively. The subjects who were sero-positive to anti-HCV had had additional exposure to HBV. Anti-HCV positivity was not related to the age of the subject nor the number of units of blood and blood components transfused. Screening of blood donors for anti-HCV, apart from HBV, may minimise the hazards of post transfusion hepatitis in high risk recipients like transfusion dependent thalassaemics and haemophilics.
Bhattacharya
D K
DK
Society for Research on Haematology & Blood Transfusion, Calcutta.
Bhattacharjee
S
S
De
M
M
Lahiri
P
P
D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000628:therapy*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies