The burden of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with sickle cell anemia in Uyo, Nigeria: A hospital based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Blood transfusion is an invaluable therapeutic intervention in sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients’ care. Sickle cell anemia patients usually require frequent blood transfusion and are at increased risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C virus infections through these transfusions. Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients’ with sickle cell anemia and the role of blood transfusion in the transmission of the infections. Methods: This was a prospective, observational cross-sectional study conducted on adult patients with SCA attending the Haematology Outpatient Clinic of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Relevant clinical history was obtained from consenting subjects. Blood samples were collected for hemoglobin electrophoresis and viral antigen/antibody screening using ELISA kits. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) windows version 23.0. Results: Eight-six patients with SCA participated in the study. Forty (46.5%) of the subjects were male and 63 (73.3%) of the participants were within the age range of 20–29 years. Seventy-five (87.2%) of the subjects had blood transfusion while 11 (12.8%) never received blood transfusion in their entire life. Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among the transfused SCA patients in this study was 9.3%, 24.0%, and 18.7% respectively while those not transfused had seroprevalence of 9.1% for HIV and 0% for both HBV and HCV. One (1.2%) of the transfused subjects tested positive for HIV and HCV. There was no statistically significant difference in the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections in relation to the transfusion status of the subjects (p=0.98, 0.07, and 0.12, respectively). Conclusion: The proportion of our SCA patients who were HIV, HBV, and HCV positive was considerable. Blood transfusion did not significantly influence the seroprevalence rates of these viral infections. Measures aimed at controlling the infections in the patients and the general population should be scaled up.