title: Hepatitis C virus antibodies and other markers of blood-transfusion-transmitted infection in multi-transfused Cuban patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HCV was initially identified in 1989 when it was found to be the primary causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis,a condition associated with high rates of progressive and end-stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Since then, appreciation of the significant worldwide health impact of HCV infection has grown. HCV infection was identified as a public health problem in Cuba in the 1990s. Despite universal blood donor screening, which was achieved in 1995 using the Cuban immunoassay system UMELISA HCV, the infection is still found in multi-transfused patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the magnitude of HCV, HBV and HIV-1&2 infections among Cuban blood recipients and to assess the role of potential risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 318 patients from Havana City, Pinar del Río and Villa Clara, who had been previously treated with 10 or more units of allogenic blood or blood components in at least two different occasions. The patients were evaluated for HCV Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBc Ab, and HIV-1&2 Ab. Data management and statistical analysis were performed using EpiInfo and SSPS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence rates were 51.6% for HCV Ab; 5.3% for HBsAg; 45.0% for anti-HBc and 0% for HIV-1&2 Ab. Ten (3.1%) patients were co-infected with HCV and HBV Blood transfusion was not identified as the main risk factor for HCV transmission. The number of blood units received by the patients was not statistically associated with the HCV Ab prevalence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection with HCV was identified more frequently than HBV and HIV among our study population. Patients undergoing hemodialysis were at the highest risk of becoming infected. Medical procedures including surgery, transplantation, invasive odontology, and sharing or reuse of needles and syringes, are associated with higher HCV Ab seroprevalences compared with blood transfusion alone.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Immunology, POB 8070, Havana, 10800 Cuba.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: René A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villaescusa
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Merlín
authors.forename: Ada A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Arce
authors.forename: Dunia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Adalberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almaguer
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Melians
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Aparicio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies