Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies among multitransfused thalassaemic children in Shiraz, Iran.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the rate of seropositivity to hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among children with beta-thalassaemia major receiving multiple transfusions in Shiraz, Iran, compared with healthy controls.


METHODS
The study was performed during 1999-2000 on multitransfused children with beta-thalassaemia major registered by the Shiraz Thalassaemia Society. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Ab) and HIV Ab were checked using a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive tests were confirmed by western blots. Healthy blood donors were used for the control group.


RESULTS
Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV Ab and HIV Ab were positive in four of 755 (0.53%, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.17-1.3), 73 of 466 (15.7%; 95% CI=12.6-19.2) and none of 466 patients tested, respectively. Positive sera for HBsAg, anti-HCV Ab and HIV Ab were found in 85 (1.07%), 47 (0.59%) and 27 (0.34%) of 7879 control children, respectively. The rate of anti-HCV Ab was significantly higher in patients than in the control group (P < 0.0001). In patients, the rate of positive anti-HCV Ab was significantly higher than the rate for positive HBsAg (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that HCV is the current major problem in multitransfused children with thalassaemia major and more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti-HCV must be introduced in our blood banks.
Karimi
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Center for Research Consultation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. alavianm@sums.ac.ir
Ghavanini
A A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies