[Post-transfusion viral infections in patients with hemoglobinopathies]

Thalassemic patients are among the most transfused patients, and therefore the most exposed to transfusion-transmitted infections. Prevalence of anti-HIV antibodies before systematic blood donations screening has been evaluated at 1.56% in a European study. Since implementation of this screening, seroconversion to HIV has been drastically reduced. A prevalence around 40% of patients with anti-hepatitis C antibodies has been found in another European study, using second generation tests. Another conclusion of this last study was that the vaccinal coverage against hepatitis B was insufficient. Sickle cell patients receive variable transfusional supplies. When they are transfused monthly, they have the same transfusional risk as thalassemic patients. As some patients may need to be transfused in Africa, where the transfusional risk is important, most medical teams prefer to transfuse sickle cell patients before any travel to Africa.