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Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies among multitransfused thalassaemic children in Shiraz, Iran
Author(s) -
Karimi M,
Ghavanini AA
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2001.00709.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , seroprevalence , hepatitis c virus , antibody , hepatitis b , immunology , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis c , virology , hepatitis , virus , serology
Objective : To evaluate the rate of seropositivity to hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among children with β‐thalassaemia major receiving multiple transfusions in Shiraz, Iran, compared with healthy controls. Methodology : The study was performed during 1999–2000 on multitransfused children with β‐thalassaemia major registered by the Shiraz Thalassaemia Society. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Ab) and HIV Ab were checked using a second‐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 four of 755 (0.53%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.17–1.3), 73 of 466 (15.7%; 95% CI = 12.6–19.2) and none of 466 patients tested, respectively. Positive sera for HBsAg, anti‐HCV Ab and HIV Ab were found in 85 (1.07%), 47 (0.59%) and 27 (0.34%) of 7879 control children, respectively. The rate of anti‐HCV Ab was significantly higher in patients than in the control group ( P < 0.0001). In patients, the rate of positive anti‐HCV Ab was significantly higher than the rate for positive HBsAg ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion : It is concluded that HCV is the current major problem in multitransfused children with thalassaemia major and more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti‐HCV must be introduced in our blood banks.