Seroepidemiological investigation of HTLV I,II infection among Busherian multi- transfused patients in 2003

ABSTRACT

HTLV is a member of Retroviridae family whose infection can lead to leukemia. Since in most regions of Iran [like Bushehr] donated blood units are not tested for HTLV infection, multiple transfusion patients are at high risk. In this study, we evaluated serological prevalence of the infection among Busherian patients. This was a descriptive study in which samples of all Busherian multi-transfused patients were taken based on dispersion of thalassemic and hemodialysis hospital wards. Blood samples for detection of HTLV I/II infection markers were tested by ELISA method and for confirmation of positive ELISA results western blot technique was used. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software and Chi-square. Out of 642 Busherian multi-transfused patients including 455 [70.78%] thalassemic, 86 [13.3%] hemophilic and 101 [15.7%] hemodialysis patients, 41 of all thalassemic were ELISA positive out of whom 22[53.7%] were male and 19[46.3%] female. Infection in 14 cases was confirmed by western blot technique [p=0.77]. Statistical analysis did not show any significant correlation between western blot results and gender [p=0.56]. Neither was there any significant difference between western blot test results across different age ranges [p=0.67]. The significant point in this research was the detection of a thalassemic patient with dual infection of HTLV type I and II. Detection of HTLV infection among multi-transfused population indicated that such an infection may exist among blood donors of Bushehr