Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

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Hepatitis C virus(HCV) is responsible for the majority of cases of viral hepatitis in transfusion dependent thalassemic patients. Although recent screening policies have markedly decreased the incidence of HCV infection, this problem is still one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in thalassemic patients. This retrospective study was designed to investigate the frequency of HCV infection in Iranian thalassemic patients.The hospital records of 507 multitransfused thalassemic patients who referred to receive their care in Ali-Asghar Children Hospital in Tehran from 21st March 1999 to 20 th March 2000 were reviewed. Twenty four-percent(122 patients) were anti-HCV positive. All but one had received their first transfusion before 1996 when the screening of products for HCV became mandatory. Liver biopsy was performed in a subgroup of 38 patients. In all of them true HCV infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction test. There was a positive correlation between ALT means and the liver histopathology through stage(P=0.04) and grade I to III(P=0.015). Similarly, AST mean level was correlated with progression from grade I to III(P=0.010). No correlation was found between AST and ALT means and progression to stage IV or grade IV liver disease. There was a reverse correlation between serum albumin level through stage 1 to 4 (P=0.029). The serum albumin level did not have any correlation with grading. HCV infection is common in multi-transfused thalassemic patients. Increased transaminase levels and/or depressed serum albumin levels predict significant histhological changes in liver biopsy.

Keywords: Key Words: 1) Blood transfusion 2) Hepatitis C virus 3) Thalassemia

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