Seropositivity of Hepatitis B and C among Syrian Multitransfused Patients

Abstract

Background and objectivesBlood transfusion is a lifesaving therapy for patients with hemoglobinopathies. However, the need of frequent transfusion carries the risk of transmitting hepatitis B and C infections which are intermediately prevalent in Syria. Despite screening blood donations with sensitive methods, the risk of transmission is still present when infectious blood is donated within the window period. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of HBV and HCV seropositivity, and its association with multiple transfusions among Syrian hemoglobinopathies patients.Materials and MethodsHBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV were tested for 159 Syrian multi-transfused patients by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).ResultsThirty-nine of 159 (24.5%) multi-transfused patients were HBsAg/anti-HBc or anti-HCV positive, 26 (16%) of which never visited the dentist, and they either tested postsurgically negative for HBsAg and anti-HCV or never underwent a surgical procedure. On the contrary of anti-HCV seropositivity, HBsAg/anti-HBc seropositivity was significantly associated with the number of blood transfusions, number of blood units and age (P < 0.001).ConclusionAbout one-sixth of our patients most likely acquired HBV/HCV infection via blood transfusion. Administering HBV vaccine, ensuring the immune status, and monitoring hepatitis markers might considerably minimize the incidence of viral hepatitis among multi-transfused patients.

Refugee children with beta‐thalassemia in Turkey: Overview of demographic, socioeconomic, and medical characteristics

“…Among 299 immigrant patients who had treatment in their own country, serologic analysis revealed hepatitis B antigenemia in 0.6% and antihepatitis C in 5.3% of patients. Recently, Yazaji et al reported that among 159 Syrian multitransfused patients with hemoglobinopathy, 11.32% of them were positive for anti‐HCV, which is in accordance with our refugee patients.…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viruses in ? – thalassemias major patient in AD-Diwanya privince ,iraq

“…The rate of blood transfusion was ranging from 1 to 4 times per month patients with small age and patients who had splenectomy usually need transfusion l -2 times per month while patients who didn't have splenectomy and reaching adulthood or teenage , they usually needs transfusion 3-4 times per month. The prevalence rate of hepatitis B virus infection in patients participating in this study was 2.5% ( two patients out of 80 ) which was less than the result of similar study done by Widad Yazaji in Syria which is a neighboring country, the study involved 159 patients, the study reveal that 13.2% of patients were seropositive for hepatitis B infection (21patients out of 159) 9 . The prevalence rate of HCV infection in the current study was 3.8% ( 3 patients out of 80) which was slightly higher than the prevalence rate of HBV infection which might be due to the availability of HB vaccine in the national vaccine program while there is no vaccine for HCV till the current day in the entire world.…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hiv in Multiply Transfused Sickle Cell Disease Patients From Oman

“…SCD patients are at great risk since they are often multi-transfused, especially in those patients with a severe disease background. The frequency of transfusion was identified as a major risk factor for HCV infection, according to study conducted in 1995 in Bahrain27 and another in Siria reporting a cohort of frequently transfused hemoglobinopathy patients,28 However, although the risk of infection increased with increasing frequency of transfusions, the prevalence of HCV in the current study is much lower than reported in thalassemic patients from Oman (41%) 23. Though there are several factors responsible for this high prevalence, frequency of transfusions is indeed the most significant factor for the high HCV prevalence in the thalassemia population from Oman 23.…”