Blood transfusions and HIV infections (HIV1, HIV2/LAV2) in Ivory Coast

Sera from 500 blood donors, 67 multiply-transfused children with sickle-cell anaemia and 320 healthy children who had not been transfused were tested for HIV1 and HIV2 antibodies. Amongst blood donors, 49 (9.8%) exhibited antibodies to retroviruses: 12 (2.4%) to HIV1, 17 (3.4%) to HIV2 and 20 (4%) to both HIV1 and HIV2. Fifteen (22.4%) of the 67 multiply-transfused children had retroviral antibodies: five (7.4%) to HIV1 four (6%) to HIV2 and six (9%) to both HIV1 and HIV2. In contrast, among 320 non-transfused children only two (0.62%) exhibited HIV1 infection. These results suggest that children with sickle-cell anaemia who have been repeatedly transfused, constitute a high risk group for HIV1 and HIV2 infections in Ivory Coast.