title: Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in thalassemia.
abstract: The presence of anti-HCV antibodies has been examined in a group of 256 consecutive thalassemic patients who received blood transfusions in several countries around the world. Overall 60% were found to be anti-HCV positive. A higher incidence of anti-HCV antibodies was noted in Italian patients with respect to patients living in Eastern countries, and in southern Italy with respect to northern Italy. Because these patients received a large portion of their transfusions before the anti-HCV test became available, these data indicate a higher anti-HCV seroprevalence among Italian blood donors and confirm published data indicating a higher seroprevalence in southern Italy. The anti-seropositivity correlated highly with serum transaminase elevation and with histological diagnoses of chronic active hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Ematologica, Ospedale di Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angelucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000821:virology*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies