title: Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Viruses among Thalassemia Patients in West North of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalassemia patients that are conventionally treated by a regular transfusion regimen are exposed to blood born viral infections.The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among all multitransfused thalassemia patients in west north of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted in February 2014, on 32 patients in Urmia, suffering from transfusion dependent thalassemia were admitted to Motahari and Emam Khomeini hospitals. Patients' medical records were studied for HBs antigen and seropositivity for HCV, and HIV antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 32transfusion dependent thalassemia patients aged between 5-17years, 18 (56.25%) and14 (43.75%) were male and female, respectively. All of them were found seronegative for HBs antigen, HCV, and HIV antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that screening of blood products is efficient in Urmia, capital of West Azarbaijan, Iran for prevention of blood born viral infections.
authors.affiliation: ;
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valizadeh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noroozi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hejazi
authors.forename: Sh
authors.initials: Sh
authors.lastname: Nateghi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashemi
keywords: Antibody; HBs Antigen; HCV; HIV; Thalassemia; TransfusionResults