Prevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection among Thalassemia patients in Ninavha Governorate/Iraq

Abstract

Regular blood transfusion in patients with hereditary hemolytic anemia, particularly thalassemia, has improved their overall survival, but carries a definite risk of acquisition of blood-borne virus infection. Between march 2012 until May 2012, a total of 480 blood samples were collected from B thalassemia major patients attending thalassemia center in Ibn-Alatheer hospital in Ninavha governorate. out of 480 patients 273 (57%) males and 207 (43%) females. 50 out of 480 (10.4%) patients were found Anti- HCV positive, 44 out of 50 (88%) were found HCV RNA positive among Anti- HCV positive patients, 2 out of 480 (0.4%) were found HBSAg positive, and no any Case were reported from HIV positive among patients. The prevalence of HCV infection is much higher compared to HBV and HIV infection due to possibly infected blood transfusion among thalassemia major patients.