ABSTRACT
Objective: Hepatitis is a major public health problem throughout the world affecting several hundred million of people. Aim is to study incidence of HIV seropositivity in blood donors and suspected patients attending voluntary council and testing centre and to compare prevalence of Anti HCV antibody positivity in HIV seropositive samples. Material and Methods: A total of 1786 serum samples were tested for HIV antibodies in patients attending Voluntary Council and Testing Centre (VCTC) at Guru Govind Singh Hospital, Jamnagar. The serum sample of HIV seropositive patients were tested for HCV antibodies. Those serum samples found positive for Anti-HCV antibody were reconfirmed by Signal HCV method. Out of total 1786 samples for HIV 297 patients were positive (16.63%) for HIV and 1489 patients were negative (83.37%) for HIV. Discussion: As the hepatitis C virus has capacity to induce chronicity that leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer in long term. In the absence of vaccine and effective chemotherapy, screening of more and more serum samples is the only way to prevent post transfusion hepatitis C virus infection.
ABSTRACT
Background: Children suffering from beta thalassemia major, due to various genetic defects, have deficient synthesis of ß globin chain of Hemoglobin. This leads to severe anemia, general fatigue and debility asking for repeated or frequent blood transfusion. On the other hand repeated blood transfusions such expose them to dangerous infections such as HIV, HBV and HCV. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV infection among thalassemia major patients in an apex tertiary care hospital of Gujarat in west India. Materials and methods: Data were obtained from 100 ß thalassemia major patients attending thalassemia clinic for blood transfusion at regular interval in an apex tertiary care hospital of Gujarat between April 2008 and September 2008. Their laboratory results were subsequently analyzed. Results: Out of 100 patients 65 and 35 were male and female respectively. 18 (18%) patients were found Anti HCV Ab positive, 6 (6%) were found HBsAg positive and 9(9%) patients were Anti HIV 1 and or 2 Ab positive. Older age, more number of transfusions were associated with increased chances of the test to come positive suggestive of infection with respective virus. Completion of vaccination against HBV, completely or partially, was associated with less chances getting infection with HBV Conclusion: The prevalence of HCV infection is much higher compared to HBV and HIV infection due to possibly infected blood transfusion among thalassemia major patients. Screening of Anti HCV Ab detection with highly sensitive and specific test for donated blood is mandatory. Techniques like P24 Antigen detection or RT-PCR should be introduced to shorten the window period for detection of HIV infected donated blood.