The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients With Thalassemia in Zabol City of Iran

Background: Thalassemia patients are at risk of blood borne viral infections because of repeated transfusion of blood products. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection in these patients in Zabol, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on 152 patients with thalassemia at the center of special diseases of Zabol. Demographic data were collected and serum anti HCV Ab and in seven cases HCV RNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed. Results: The mean age of patients with thalassemia was 20.1 ± 3.3 that 69.2% of them were male. Thirteen out of 152 patients with thalassemia (8.5%) were HCV Ab positive, which confirmed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of HCV infection in blood samples before 1995 was significantly higher than after this year (P = 0.043). Conclusions: Considering the high prevalence of hepatitis C in patients, who received blood transfusions, it seems necessary to examine blood products and blood donors more closely in terms of transmissible diseases like Hepatitis C.