Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among thalassemia patients: A perspective from a multi-ethnic population of Pakistan
10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60218-2
- Author:
Ghufranud DIN
1
;
Ihsan ALI
1
;
Safia AHMED
1
;
Javid Iqbal DASTI
1
;
Sajid MALIK
2
Author Information
1. Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University
2. Human Genetics Program, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Beta-thalassemia;
Ferritin;
Hepatitis B;
Hepatitis C
- From:
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
2014;7(S1):S127-S133
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate current situation regarding the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in thalassemic patients visiting a thalassemia centre in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan for supportive therapy. Methods: Serum samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV by using commercially available ELISA kit. Micro-plate reader was used to perform analysis based on the absorbance/cut-off ratios. Samples were considered positive or negative. Results from ELISA were analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 95 subjects were observed to have β-thalassemia major (96%) and β-thalassemia intermedia (4%). Among these, 47 (49%) were detected positive for anti-HCV antibodies and three for hepatitis B surface antigen. All recruited subjects were observed for therapy/medication behavior and clinical complications. About 83 (87%) patients were on chelation therapy, and overall complications (hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and splenectomy) were observed in 81% individuals. The distribution of disease status (thalassemia and hepatitis) was not significantly associated with gender, age, origin, province, socio-economic status and parental marriage type (P>0.05). The distributions of ferritin levels, therapy/medication and complications were assessed across demographic variables. Thalassemic subjects were distributed with respect to their sporadic and familial presentations. Among the familial cases (n=35), a total of 93 subjects were found to be affected. Parity was scored for the index cases, and majority belonged to second parity (29%), followed by first and third parities (25% and 15%, respectively). The sibship size was increasing with increasing parity level. Conclusions: Although standardized blood screening procedures are supposed to be implemented, higher prevalence of HCV in thalassemic patients requires greater attention in Pakistan. Furthermore, a poor compliance regarding iron chelation therapy has been observed in this study.
