The Prevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HCV, and Anti-HBc in Patients With β-Thalassemia Referred to Blood Banking Department of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran

Although regular blood transfusion partially increases survival in patients with thalassemia, blood transfusion has complications and the most common of them is transfusion transmitted diseases. The current study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), and hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in patients with β-thalassemia with frequent blood transfusion and also determining risk factors in patients infected with the virus.
The current cross sectional study was conducted on 50 patients with β-thalassemia major referred to Blood Banking Department of Ghaem Hospital affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was employed to measure HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HBc, and Biochemistry AutoAnalyzer device was used to assess the liver enzymes.
The current study was conducted on 50 patients with β-thalassemia including 25 males and 25 females within the age range of 2 - 46 years. The mean age was 17 years. According to the results, the prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HBc were 8%, 16%, and 6%, respectively.
In the current study, the prevalence of anti-HCV in patients with thalassemia undergoing frequent blood transfusion was high. It showed that more intensive screening on blood donors is needed to diagnose HCV and HBV infections in patients with β-thalassemia major; although, it is needed to confirm the HCV when the serology is positive. It is advised that a technique with high sensitivity and specificity such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) should be used.