Abstract
Background: Thalassaemia is one of the most common hereditary diseases worldwide including Bangladesh. Multitransfused thalassaemia patients may acquire hepatitis C virus infection in spite of currently practicing screening schedule. It is postulated that there are some pitfalls in the currently practicing screening system behind the transmission of HCV in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients.Objectives: To find out the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in transfusiondependent thalassaemia patients and thereby to see the efficacy of currently practicing screening schedule for hepatitis C virus.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st December, 2015 to 30th November, 2016 at Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital Thalassemia Center (DSHTC). Three hundred and twenty patients of multitransfused β-thalassaemia major and Hb E β-thalassaemia aged 3−18 years were enrolled. History was taken and physical examination was done. Blood specimens were collected and sent to the standard laboratory for detection of antibody against hepatits C virus.Results: Among the subjects, 174 (54.3%) were male and 146 (45.7%) were female. Out of total 320 patients, 75 (23%) were β-thalassaemia major and 245 (77%) were Hb E β-thalassaemia. Among the 320 thalassaemia cases, 47 were found positive for anti-HCV with an overall prevalence of 14.7%.Conclusion: Despite screening of blood donors by Rapid Device (Strip) Method, HCV infection remains an important cause of viral hepatitis infection among multitransfused thalassaemia children.J Enam Med Col 2018; 8(1): 16-19
Highlights
Thalassaemia is one of the commonest hereditary diseases worldwide
It is well known that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of post-transfusion hepatitis infection, and it can lead to hepatitis with long-term complications like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.[4]
This cross sectional study was conducted in Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital Thalassaemia Center (DSHTC) during the period from 1st december 2015 to 31st November 2016. β-thalassaemia major and Hb E-β thalassaemia were confirmed by Hb electrophoresis and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and by DNA analysis when needed in children aged from three years to eighteen years
Summary
Thalassaemia is one of the commonest hereditary diseases worldwide It is an important health problem, causing much morbidity, early mortality and a lot of financial and emotional miseries for a family.[1] After iron overload blood-borne infections are the main cause of death in thalassaemia patients.[2] Patients with β-thalassaemia major who regularly receive transfusion are at risk of developing post-transfusion hepatitis. Among these infections, hepatitis B and C are the most common.[3] It is well known that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of post-transfusion hepatitis infection, and it can lead to hepatitis with long-term complications like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.[4] A lot of studies among multi-transfused thalassaemia patients reported the prevalence of HCV in β-thalassaemia patients at a wide range of 3−67%.5-9. Conclusion: Despite screening of blood donors by Rapid Device (Strip) Method, HCV infection remains an important cause of viral hepatitis infection among multitransfused thalassaemia children
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