title: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in thalassemic patients in the south of Thailand.
abstract: One hundred and one thalassemic patients, 37 with homozygous beta-thalassemia, 60 with beta-thalassemia Hb E and 4 with hemoglobin H disease with Hb Constant Spring were studied. Twenty-four of 101 (23.8%) tested positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Anti-HCV positivity among those with homozygous beta-thalassemia was significantly higher than anti-HCV positivity among the beta-thalassemic Hb E group. The number of blood transfusions received by anti-HCV positive thalassemic patients was significantly higher than that by anti-HCV negative thalassemic patients. Ninety per cent of anti-HCV positive thalassemic patients had persistently or intermittently raised SGPT levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat yai, Songkhla, Thailand. lvichai@ratree.psu.ac.th
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laosombat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pornpatkul
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wongchanchailert
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Worachat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiriyasatienku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase