Prevalence of hepatitis C among thalassemic patients reffering to Kerman university of medical sciences hospital NO:۱ in ۱۹۹۶

this prospective case-control study was carried out to evaluate the Prevalence of positive cases of anti-HCV Ab in ۱۰۷ thalassemic patients  and ۱۰۷ children without any previous history of blood transfusion as a control group.ELISA GENERATION II was used for serologic investigation and then positive cases were confiemed  by RIBA generation I.the average age of thalassemic patients was ۹.۲+_۴.۳ years and those of control group was ۸.۹+_۴.۲ years.۴۵.۱% of the case group and ۳۹.۲% of the control group were female and ۵۴.۹% of the case group and ۶۰.۸% of the control group were male.Anti-HVC Ab was positive in ۲۲.۴% of the thalassemic patients  while there was no positive case in the control group and the difference was statistically significant(p<۰.۰۰۱).the average number of transfusions was ۱۰۴+_۵۸.۲ in anti-HCV Ab positive  thalassemic patients and ۸۵.۳+_۵۰.۶ in anti-HCV Ab negative patients and the difference was not statistically significant(p=۰.۱۲۶).According to the results of this study,the prevalence of contamination with HCV was zero in normal population of Kernanian children and ۲۲.۴% in  thalassemic patients.therefore screening of donated bloods for anti-HCV Ab in order to eliminate the contaminated bloods has a significant bimportant in preventing HCV transmission in highrisk group.

Keywords:

thalassemic , Hepatitis C , anti-HCV Ab , Blood transfusion