| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 7
| Issue : 1 | Page : 39-44 |
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Prevalence of hepatitis C virus seropositivity among multitransfused patients with hereditary anemias in Basra, Iraq
Oula Abdullah Najim1, Meaad Kadhum Hassan2
1 Center for Hereditary Blood Diseases, Basra Maternity and Children Hospital, Basra, Iraq
2 Center for Hereditary Blood Diseases, Basra Maternity and Children Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Meaad Kadhum Hassan
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Basra, Basra
Iraq
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijh.ijh_41_17
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Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health problem and is a leading cause of morbidity and death, with regional variations in genotype prevalence.
Objectives: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity among patients with hereditary anemias, the association of anti-HCV seropositivity with selected risk factors and the common HCV genotypes.
Patients and Methods: This prospective descriptive study was carried out on patients with hereditary anemias from January 2010 through December 2014 registered at the Center for Hereditary Blood Diseases. A total of 2778 patients (1282 males and 1496 females) were recruited, their mean age was 13.19 ± 9.40 years. Patients were screened for HCV antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Quantitation of the HCV viral load and genotype were assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: The frequency of anti-HCV seropositivity was higher in 2010 (33.7%) and declined progressively over the following 4 years (31.7%, 20.2%, 10.8%, and 9.2%), respectively. Out of 424 patients with two positive anti-HCV tests at least 6 months apart, 215 (50.7%) had positive results with PCR. The most frequent genotype was 4 in 43 (56.5%), followed by 1 in 31 (40.7%) patients; 1a: 21.1% and 1b: 19.6%. A significant association was found between anti-HCV seropositivity and type of disease, and deferoxamine pump use, P < 0.05.
Conclusions: Anti-HCV seropositivity is declining among multitransfused patients with hereditary anemias in Basra, Iraq, and genotype 4 is the most common in these patients.
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