Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in thalassemia major patients in south of Iran-Bandar Abbas

Thalassemia major is a genetic and blood disorder with a known defect in the hemoglobin. These patients require constant blood transfusions. This increases the risk of susceptibility to infectious diseases such as hepatitis in these patients. Given the importance of this infection and the mortality rates in patients with thalassemia, and as there are no reliable statistics available for these infections in this area, we decided to conduct this study. In this study, 120 patients with thalassemia major were evaluated within 3 years. Patients were selected voluntarily and randomly. Patient samples were examined for Anti HBs, HBs Ag and Anti HBc. Chi-square and Mann-Withney tests were used for data analysis. The results of the study showed that 17.0% of the patients with thalassemia major were infected with HCV and only one case was HBV positive. In this study, 65.0% of patients with hepatitis were men while 35.0% were women. However, only one more case was positive with PCR compared to ELISA. Safe blood transfusion for these patients are very important. Thalassemia major can affect the survival of these patients. The screening of blood donors and reducing these lethal infections in patients should be the main aim in the field of blood transfusion and health policies.