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HCV and HBV infection among multitransfused thalassemics from Eastern Sicily

HCV- und HBV-Infektion bei ostsizilianischen Thalassämie-Patienten mit häufigen Bluttransfusionen

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Summary

Serum specimens from 152 Sicilian multitransfused thalassemic subjects were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti- HCV) and for HBV markers by enzyme linked immunoassay and with reference to anti-HCV, confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay. A high rate (47%) of subjects was anti-HCV positive. HBsAg was found in 8% of patients and 55% had anti-HBs or anti-HBc antibodies or both. Contrary to HBV infection, anti-HCV seropositivity was related to the number of transfused units. The highest anti-HCV prevalence was observed between 16 and 20 years; 100% of persons older than 50 years had at least one marker of HBV infection. In conclusion, HCV and HBV are widespread among multitransfused thalassemics. Probably in our area, particularly during the pre-HBsAg screening era, several multitransfused patients were infected by HBV more readily than by HCV.

Zusammenfassung

Die Seren von 152 Thalassämie-Patienten, die häufig Bluttransfusionen erhalten hatten, wurden auf Antikörper gegen Hepatitis-C-Virus und HBV-Marker getestet. Ein hoher Prozentsatz (47%) erwies sich als anti-HCV positiv, was mit RIBA bestätigt wurde. HBsAg wurde bei 8% der Patienten gefunden und 55% hatten anti-HBc-oder Anti-HBs-Antikörper. Die dominierende anti-HCV-Prävalenz stand in Beziehung zur Transfusionshäufigkeit und war zwischen dem 16. und 20. Lebensjahr am höchsten. Im Gegensatz dazu stand die HBV-Infektion nicht im Verhältnis zu der Anzahl der Bluttransfusionen; bei 100% der Patienten über 50 Jahre wurde mindestens ein HBV-Infektionsmarker beobachtet. Bei Thalassämie-Patienten sind HCV- und HBV-Infektionen verbreitet. Wahrscheinlich haben sich vor dem Beginn des HBsAg-Screening in den Blutbanken viele Patienten mit dem HB-Virus infiziert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Catania, Via Passo Gravina 187, I-95125, Catania

    B. Cacopardo (Research Assistant),  R. Russo, F. Fatuzzo M.D.,  S. Cosentino, R. La Rosa M.D., B. M. Celesia M.D., L. Nigro (Research Assistant) &  A. Nunnari

  2. Servizio Talassemia, Ospedale Ferrarrotto, USL 35, Catania, Italy

    T. Lombardo M.D. &  V. Frontini

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  1. B. Cacopardo
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  3. F. Fatuzzo M.D.
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Cacopardo, B., Russo, R., Fatuzzo, F. et al. HCV and HBV infection among multitransfused thalassemics from Eastern Sicily. Infection 20, 83–85 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711069

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711069

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