RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Thalassemia patients that are conventionally treated by a regular transfusion regimen are exposed to blood born viral infections.The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among all multitransfused thalassemia patients in west north of Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in February 2014, on 32 patients in Urmia, suffering from transfusion dependent thalassemia were admitted to Motahari and Emam Khomeini hospitals. Patients' medical records were studied for HBs antigen and seropositivity for HCV, and HIV antibodies. RESULTS: Out of 32transfusion dependent thalassemia patients aged between 5-17years, 18 (56.25%) and14 (43.75%) were male and female, respectively. All of them were found seronegative for HBs antigen, HCV, and HIV antibodies. CONCLUSION: It seems that screening of blood products is efficient in Urmia, capital of West Azarbaijan, Iran for prevention of blood born viral infections.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Iron overload is the main transfusion related side effects in patients with transfusion dependent hemoglobinopathies. Severe iron deposition in tissues leads to organ dysfunction. Many organs can be affected such as heart, liver, and endocrine organs. Cardiac failure and liver fibrosis are the consequent of Iron overload in transfusion dependent hemoglobinopathy. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe, noninvasive, and accurate method for the assessment of iron deposition in different tissues. This study assessed iron levels in liver and heart of the patients with transfusion dependent hemoglobinopathies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The studied population consisted of 12 patients (7 male and 5 female) with transfusion dependent hemoglobinopathies, aged between 10-18 years old. Then, Cardiac and liver T2*- weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained. RESULTS: In current study, 1patient (8.33%) had severe, 2 patients (16.66%) had moderate and 2(16.66%) had mild cardiac iron deposition. Out of 12 patients, 1 had severe iron deposition in liver (8.33%), 5(41.66%) and 4(33.33%) had moderate and mild hepatic iron deposition, respectively. Differences between Hepatic and cardiac iron levels were not significant between males and females (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Since cardiac and liver iron levels were higher than normal in most of the study group, checking ferritin level and liver function test and also echocardiography in shorter intervals (each 3 months) in involved group is suggested instead of checking routinely in 6 month intervals in patients with transfusion dependent hemoglobinopathies.
RESUMO
AIM: to compare the prevalence of Pylori infection in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and control group with cataract. METHODS: This is a prospective case-control study. The participants were organized in two groups. First group (case) consisted of 35 patients with POAG and second group consisted of 35 age matched participants with cataract whose optic disk could be evaluated. Serum levels of anti H. pylori IgG antibody were evaluated with the method of ELISA. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of Pylori infection was 89.1 % (33 of 37) in patients with POAG and 59.5 % (25 of 42) in the control group. The difference was significant (P=0.008). The odds ratio for association between Pylori and POAG was 5.69 and the range of 95% confidence interval was from 1.58 to 20.50. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Helicobacter Pylori infection might be associated with primary open angle glaucoma.