A prospective study for prevalence and/or development of transfusion-transmitted infections in multiply transfused...

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Beta-thalassemia major requires lifelong blood transfusions, increasing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.
• Transfusion-transmitted infections pose a significant health burden, particularly in vulnerable pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the seropositivity rates of Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in children with beta-thalassemia major.
• To compare infection rates in multi-transfused thalassemia patients with healthy controls in Ahmedabad, India.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2007 to January 2009.
• Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV antibodies, and HIV antibodies were tested using fourth-generation ELISA, with positive results confirmed by western blot.
• Multi-transfused children with beta-thalassemia major were compared against healthy blood donors.

Main Results:

• Seropositivity rates were 1.04% for HBsAg, 25% for anti-HCV antibodies, and 1.04% for HIV antibodies among 96 thalassemia patients.
• The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was significantly higher in children with beta-thalassemia major compared to HBsAg and HIV.
• A notably high rate of anti-HCV antibody positivity (25%) was observed in the study cohort.

Conclusions:

• Hepatitis C virus infection represents a major transfusion-transmitted threat in multi-transfused children with beta-thalassemia major.
• There is an urgent need for improved pretransfusion blood screening for anti-HCV antibodies in blood centers.
• Strengthening blood safety measures is critical to protect transfusion-dependent pediatric patients.