title: Trend in Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among β-thalassemia Major Patients: 10 Years of Experience in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) among patients with β-thalassemia major. A high prevalence of HCV was reported among these patients. The aim of this study is seeking the trend of the prevalence of HCV infection among the patients with b-thalassemia major in Guilan province, Northern Iran over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted on 1113 patients with b-thalassemia major in the Guilan province, northern Iran from 2002 to 2012, using multiple data sources. A blood sample was taken from each patient, and a questionnaire regarding demographic data and risk factors was completed for them. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and recombinant immunoblot assay for HCV were performed in all cases. A stepwise forward logistic regression analysis was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of hepatitis C infection among β-thalassemia major patients was 13.6%. The risk of hepatitis C among β-thalassemia major patients was greater before screening program for HCV (odds ratio = 9.6, 95% confidence interval: 2.3-40.5). In addition, the prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity was decreased dramatically among patients who have received transfusions after implementation of blood donor screening for HCV. There were no positive HCV cases in the patients younger than 10 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of TTIs including HCV can be reduced by implementing screening program for healthy blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jafroodi
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society (NVS), H1, Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davoudi-Kiakalayeh
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohtasham-Amiri
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pourfathollah
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haghbin
keywords: Blood transfusion; Iran; hepatitis C; transfusion transmitted infections; β-thalassemia