title: Seroepidemiology of human T-cell lymphotropic virus among Iranian adult thalassemic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A large number of transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients is at a substantial risk for transfusion-transmitted infections. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a blood-borne pathogen and can be transmitted via cellular products. We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of HTLV in transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients referred to Tehran Adult Thalassemia Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2008 to 2010, 257 transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients who referred to Tehran Adult Thalassemia Clinic were enrolled. The seroprevalence of HTLV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Also, the samples with positive result for anti-HTLVAb (by ELISA) were reassessed using Western blot for HTLV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 257 transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients who were tested for anti-HTLVAb, 29 (11.3%, 95% CI = 7.8-15.6%) were found to be anti-HTLVAb positive by ELISA and Western blot. No case was detected to be HBsAg positive, whereas 16% had HBV seroconversion criteria, and more than 95% had anti-HBsAb in their sera. Also, 103 (40.1%) patients were HCV seropositive, 13 (5.1%) patients of which were co-infected with HCV/HTLV. Among the HTLV-infected patients, 44.8% were co-infected with HCV, whereas 39.5% of HTLV-seronegative individuals were HCV mono-infected (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients were in higher risk for transmission of different blood-borne pathogens such as HTLV. The screening of HTLV in Iranian blood donors is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine; Department of Clinical Hepatology, Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshvari
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hajibeigi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azarkeivan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Behnava
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Saiedi Hosseini
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharafi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D017977:Deltaretrovirus; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
keywords: HTLV; Iran; thalassemia