Spectrum of viral hepatitis in thalassemic children receiving multiple blood transfusions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of infection with hepatitis viruses in children with thalassemia receiving multiple blood transfusions.


METHODS
Sera from 50 children with thalassemia aged 5-15 years (30 boys), who had each received over 80 units of blood, were evaluated for the presence of markers for hepatitis A virus (HAV; IgG and IgM anti-HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV; HBsAg, and IgG and IgM anti-HBc), hepatitis C virus (HCV; IgG and IgM anti-HCV, and HCV RNA) and hepatitis E virus (HEV; IgG and IgM anti-HEV). IgM anti-hepatitis D virus (HDV) was looked for only in HBsAg or IgM anti-HBc positive sera.


RESULTS
No child had evidence of recent HAV or HDV infection. IgG anti-HAV was positive in 12 children. One patient had acute HBV infection. Nine patients were HBsAg-positive. HCV infection was present in 15 cases; six of them were HCV RNA positive, and three had superinfection with hepatitis B. Recent HEV infection was present in 5 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Thalassemic patients receiving multiple blood transfusions often acquire hepatitis B (20%) and C (30%) infections. Recent hepatitis E infection was documented in 10% in this one-point study.
Irshad
Mohammad
M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Peter
Sudhir
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens