[Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection in a population of multiply-transfused patients in Colombia].
BACKGROUND
Although the transfusion of blood products is a common therapy, it carries risk of transmission of infections, especially hepatitus B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).


OBJECTIVE
As part of the blood safety initiative, the Pan American Health Organization supported studies to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus infection in Colombia.


METHODS
Between February and September 2003, a cross sectional study examined 500 multiply-transfused patients at four hospital centers in the cities of Bogota and Medellin. The serum samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using commercial kits.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence of HIV infection was 1.8% (CI 95% 0.5-3.1). The seroprevalence of HBV infection was 18.6% (CI 95% 15.1-22.1). Six risk factors were associated with HIV and HBV infection: (1) receiving more than 48 units of blood or blood components, (2) diagnosis of hemophilia, (3) receiving transfusions for more than one year, (4) receiving whole blood, (5) coinfection with hepatitis C virus and (6) receiving transfusions before 1993.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first epidemiological study with a significant sample size performed in multiply-transfused patients in Colombia. The principal finding was the high prevalence of HBV and HIV infection in patients with diagnosis of hemophilia compared with the other five groups of multiply-transfused patients.
Beltrán
Mauricio
M
Red Nacional de Bancos de Sangre, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. mbeltrand@ins.gov.co
Navas
María Cristina
MC
Arbeláez
María Patricia
MP
Donado
Jorge
J
Jaramillo
Sergio
S
De la Hoz
Fernando
F
Estrada
Cecilia
C
Cortés
Lucía del Pilar
Ldel P
de Maldonado
Amalia
A
Rey
Gloria
G
D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003105:Colombia; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction