prevalence of hepatitis B among thalassemic patients in Kerman

A prospective case control study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of HBsAg in ۱۲۹ thalassemic patients and ۱۱۳ children as a control group.ELISA was used for serologic investigations. thalassemic  patients were aged ۸.۵+_۳.۸ years and children of the control group were aged ۷.۲+_۳.۸ years.۴۸.۱% of the case group and ۳۶.۳% of the control group were female and ۵۱.۹% of the case group and ۶۳.۷% of the control group were male.HBsAg was positive in ۲.۳% of the thalassemic patients and ۰.۹% of the control group,the difference was not statictically significant.the average number of transfusions in HBsAg  positive thalassemic patients was ۱۰۶.۷ units and in HBsAg negative patients was ۷۲ units.our study revealed that when blood units are screened for HBsAg  and blood donation is limited to volunteers,incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis B in thalassemic patients will be neglegible.however we suggest,early immunization against hepatitis B in thalassemic patients.

Keywords:

thalassemic , Hepatitis B , HBsAg , transfusion