title: Current trends of seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections in Pakistani β-thalassaemic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Though regular blood transfusion improves the survival, it carries the unavoidable risk of transfusion transmitted infections (TTI) in β-thalassaemic patients. Owing to the lack of uniformity in blood screening practices in Pakistan, TTI is still a major challenge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the current trends of TTI in regularly transfused β-thalassaemics and their correlation with age, number of transfusions, hematological and biochemical markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a prospective case-control study. 100 β-thalassemic patients and 200 healthy donors were recruited from June 2011 to June 2014. HCV antibodies, Hepatitis B surface antigen and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies (I & II) were evaluated. Complete blood counts, LFTs and serum ferritin were tested on all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of patients and controls was 11.18±5.07 and 20.5±1.87 years respectively. In patients, 54% and 46% were males and females respectively. Anti-HCV antibody and HbsAg were positive in 27% versus 3% and 3% versus 2% in patients and controls respectively. None of the patients and controls was HIV reactive. Seropositivity of Anti-HCV was significantly higher in patients than that of controls (P<0.001). Anti-HCV positively correlated with age above 10 years, numbers of transfusions (≥150 units), high serum ferritin, elevated ALT and alkaline phosphatase (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the decade, TTI magnitude has significantly reduced, but hepatitis C is still a main hazard. Further preventive measures including nucleic acid testing, voluntary donation and stringent donor selection will be required for reducing TTI in β-thalassaemics.
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College,Department of Haematology, Karachi, Pakistan. sadia.sultan@lnh.edu.pk; sadiasultan96@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: S M H
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000209:etiology*