title: A prospective study for prevalence and/or development of transfusion-transmitted infections in multiply transfused thalassemia major patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the rate of seropositivity to hepatitis B and C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among children with β-thalassemia major receiving multiple transfusions in Ahmedabad, India, compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed during January 2007 to January 2009 on multi-transfused children suffering with β-thalassemia major registered in the Prathama Blood Centre, Ahmedabad; Jeevandeep hospital, Ahmedabad; and Red Cross Blood Centre, Ahmedabad, and investigated for the prevalence and development of transfusion-transmitted infections. Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Antibodies (Ab), and HIV Ab were checked using a fourth-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 one of 96 (1.04%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.17-1.3), 24 of 96 (25%; 95% CI = 11.4-14.2), and one of 96 (1.04%; 95% CI = 0.12-1.3), respectively. The rate of anti-HCV Ab was significantly higher in multi-transfused children suffering with β-thalassemia major. In thalassemia patients, the rate of positive anti-HCV Ab was significantly higher than that for positive HBsAg (P<0.001) and HIV Ab (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that HCV is the current major problem in multi-transfused children with thalassemia major and more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti-HCV must be introduced in blood centers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India.
authors.forename: Roopam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Susan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chudgar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Choudhury