[Prevalence of HCV, HBV and HIV infections among severe Polish haemophiliacs]. / Czestosc zakazen HCV, HBV i HIV u chorych na ciezka hemofilie w Polsce: porównanie chorych urodzonych przed i po 1991 roku.

UNLABELLED: In the past, haemophilia replacement therapy was based on fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and blood transfusions--i.e. preparates not subjected to any viral inactivation methods. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of HCV, HBV and HIV infections among Polish haemophiliacs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Severe haemophilia patients were divided into two age groups according to the type of replacement therapy used in the past: group 1--172 patients born 1935-1990, group 2--41 patients born 1991-2002. The following viral markers were tested: anti-HCV, RNA HCV (if needed--virus genotype), HBsAg and anti-HIV. In 75 patients / group 1 and 41 / group 2, anti-HBc presence was determined. RESULTS: In group 1, 95% of patients were anti-HCV positive and in 77.3% RNA HCV was detected. The most prevalent was lb genotype (58.6%) followed by 3a (27%). HBsAg was found in 8.7% cases of group 1. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 51 of 75 (68%) patients of this group. One patient was anti-HIV positive. In only one patient of group 2 (2.4%) viral markers were detected (anti-HCV and RNA HCV). CONCLUSION: Nowadays, the risk of HCV, HBV and HIV infection in Polish severe haemophiliacs is very low.

[HCV genotypes in Polish blood donors in period 1995-2007]. / Genotypy HCV u polskich dawców krwi w okresie 1995-2007.

The results of HCV genotype distribution between 1995 and 2007 in Polish blood donors were analyzed. Special attention was drawn into the analysis of HCV polymorphism isolated from blood donors in the early phase of infection (RNA HCV positive/anti-HCV negative). Such donors identified in Poland since 2000 when the NAT for HCV was introduced are very important for molecular epidemiology analysis. The increasing frequency of 3a and 4 genotypes is observed in comparison to blood donors and patients with anti-HCV antibodies.

[HCV RNA testing for early diagnosis of hepatitis C in blood donors--new challenge for transfusion medicine and hepatology]. / Rozpoznanie wczesnego etapu zakazenia HCV u dawców krwi poprzez badanie RNA HCV--nowe wyzwanie dla transfuzjologii i hepatologii.

To improve the blood transfusion safety, according to the international recommendations anti-HCV negative blood donors are screened for HCV RNA. For decreasing the costs, the pools of 48 donor samples are tested. Until now 2,500,000 Polish donors were tested and HCV RNA was detected in 40. Anti-HCV was detected in plasma of all donors available for follow up for more than three months. No clinical symptoms were observed but in 20 donors slightly elevated ALT level was found. In the follow up, after detection of anti-HCV in 9/11 donors elevated ALT (167-2043 U/l) was observed. In two donors, out of 4 observed for more than 12 months HCV RNA was not detected in the follow up whereas anti-HCV were still present. In 7 donors probable source of infection was identified. The early detection of HCV infection is a serious challenge not only to transfusion medicine but also to general practitioners and hepatologists due to the necessity of further monitoring and treatment of infected individuals.