Résumé
Background: Hepatitis C virus [HCV] is a hepatotrop virus which causes chronic hepatitis and some important complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma [H.C.C]. In patients, one of important ways for spreading of this virus is blood products and blood transfusion. In Iran, the donor's blood in Blood Transfusion Organization has been screened for HCV scince 1996. We decided to determine the frequency of this disease in patients who received blood products before 1996 due to an acute illness [not persons who repeatedly received blood products due to a chronic disease]
Methods: This case-control study includes 200 patients [100 cases and 100 controls] between 7-18 years of age, referred to the pediatrics clinic of Amircola Hospital in Babol in 2003. The first 2cc of venous blood sample from each person in two groups was prepared and screened for HCV antibody by Eliza method and then the positive ones were examined by PCR method. Exclusion criteria in our study were age less than 7 and greater than 18 years, immunocompromised patients, who received multiple transfusions for their chronic disease and also patients who P blood products after 1996
Results: In case group, 2 persons [2%] were HCV antibody positive in one of whom [1%], this was confirmed by PCR method, but in control group there was no infected person [P=0.5], In conclusion, infectivity to hepatitis C virus in persons who received blood products for acute illness before 1996 was more than in control group but the difference between the two groups was not significant statistically [P=0.5]
Conclusion: It seems to be necessary to conduct a larger study and a special attention for infectivity of HCV in these persons