RESUMO
Patients with major beta-thalassemia have been exposed to a wide range of blood-borne viruses among which hepatitis B and C viruses have a considerable importance. In this study, seroprevalence and risk factor of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan were evaluated. Eighty four thalassemic patients who were regularly transfused at Children Hospital [Tabriz] enrolled in this observational study. Some data were collected through questionnaires and patients' medical history; then, patients were evaluated for the presence of HCVAb, HBsAg, HIVAb, HBsAb, HBcAb and ferritin by ELISA; moreover, HCV positive sera were confirmed by Recombinant Immunoblot Assay [RIBA-3.0]. None of the eighty-four thalassemic patients were HIV and HBV positive; however, 6 [7.1%] were HCV positive. Distribution of sex and the mean ferritin did not differ from HCV-positive to HCV-negative patients, but the age average was significantly higher in HC V-positive patients [p<0.001]. Moreover, HCV-positive patients had a significantly longer history of transfusion compared with HCV-negative patients [p<0.001]. The prevalence of HCV in those patients who had received their first blood transfusion before the implementation of compulsory testing for HCV in 1995 was significantly lower. In other words, no case became infected after the initiation of donor screening test for HCV.The prevalence of HCV in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan was lower compared to other provinces of Iran and all positive cases in this study went back to the time period preceeding 1995 that is before the implementation of compulsory HCV screening tests