Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience
Objectives: Regular blood transfusions are essential for patients with thalassaemia major. However, infections with hepatotropic viruses remain a major concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection among patients with hom...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sultan Qaboos University
2015-02-01
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| Series: | Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/squmj/article/view/1987 |
| _version_ | 1818136263441514496 |
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| author | Khalid Al-Naamani Ibrahim Al-Zakwani Siham Al-Sinani Fauzia Wasim Shahina Daar |
| author_facet | Khalid Al-Naamani Ibrahim Al-Zakwani Siham Al-Sinani Fauzia Wasim Shahina Daar |
| author_sort | Khalid Al-Naamani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: Regular blood transfusions are essential for patients with thalassaemia major. However, infections with hepatotropic viruses remain a major concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection among patients with homozygous beta thalassaemia in a single centre in Oman. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 200 patients treated at the Thalassemia Unit of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman, between August 1991 and December 2011 was performed. Relevant demographic and clinical characteristics were collected, including age, gender, HCV status and the presence of endocrinopathies. Results: A total of 81 patients (41%) were found to be anti-HCV-antibody (anti-HCV)-positive. HCV ribonucleic acid tests were performed on 65 anti-HCV-positive patients and were positive among 33 (51%); the remaining 16 patients died before these tests were available. Anti-HCV-positive patients were significantly older than anti-HCV-negative patients (P <0.001) and were more likely to be diabetic than anti-HCV-negative patients (27% versus 8%; P <0.001). A total of 100 patients had been transfused before they were transferred to SQUH in 1991; of these, 70 (70%) were anti-HCV-positive. Only 11 (11.5%) of the 96 patients who were seronegative in 1991, or who were transfused later, became seropositive. Conclusion: It is likely that the high prevalence of HCV among multi-transfused thalassaemic patients in Oman is due to blood transfusions dating from before the implementation of HCV screening in 1991 as the risk of HCVassociated transfusions has significantly reduced since then. Additionally, results showed that anti-HCV-positive patients were more likely to be diabetic than anti-HCV-negative patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:37:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2155bc342cc4da981e7a43a63237011 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-051X 2075-0528 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:37:38Z |
| publishDate | 2015-02-01 |
| publisher | Sultan Qaboos University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2155bc342cc4da981e7a43a632370112022-12-22T01:12:48ZengSultan Qaboos UniversitySultan Qaboos University Medical Journal2075-051X2075-05282015-02-0115146511910Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experienceKhalid Al-Naamani0Ibrahim Al-Zakwani1Siham Al-Sinani2Fauzia Wasim3Shahina Daar4Department of Medicine, Armed Forces HospitalDepartments of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos UniversityDepartments of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, OmanDepartments of Haematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, OmanHaematology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos UniversityObjectives: Regular blood transfusions are essential for patients with thalassaemia major. However, infections with hepatotropic viruses remain a major concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection among patients with homozygous beta thalassaemia in a single centre in Oman. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 200 patients treated at the Thalassemia Unit of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman, between August 1991 and December 2011 was performed. Relevant demographic and clinical characteristics were collected, including age, gender, HCV status and the presence of endocrinopathies. Results: A total of 81 patients (41%) were found to be anti-HCV-antibody (anti-HCV)-positive. HCV ribonucleic acid tests were performed on 65 anti-HCV-positive patients and were positive among 33 (51%); the remaining 16 patients died before these tests were available. Anti-HCV-positive patients were significantly older than anti-HCV-negative patients (P <0.001) and were more likely to be diabetic than anti-HCV-negative patients (27% versus 8%; P <0.001). A total of 100 patients had been transfused before they were transferred to SQUH in 1991; of these, 70 (70%) were anti-HCV-positive. Only 11 (11.5%) of the 96 patients who were seronegative in 1991, or who were transfused later, became seropositive. Conclusion: It is likely that the high prevalence of HCV among multi-transfused thalassaemic patients in Oman is due to blood transfusions dating from before the implementation of HCV screening in 1991 as the risk of HCVassociated transfusions has significantly reduced since then. Additionally, results showed that anti-HCV-positive patients were more likely to be diabetic than anti-HCV-negative patients.https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/squmj/article/view/1987hepatitis canti-hcv antibodiesbeta thalassemiaseroprevalenceblood transfusionsblood safetyoman. |
| spellingShingle | Khalid Al-Naamani Ibrahim Al-Zakwani Siham Al-Sinani Fauzia Wasim Shahina Daar Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal hepatitis c anti-hcv antibodies beta thalassemia seroprevalence blood transfusions blood safety oman. |
| title | Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience |
| title_full | Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience |
| title_short | Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Multi-transfused Thalassaemic Patients in Oman : Single centre experience |
| title_sort | prevalence of hepatitis c among multi transfused thalassaemic patients in oman single centre experience |
| topic | hepatitis c anti-hcv antibodies beta thalassemia seroprevalence blood transfusions blood safety oman. |
| url | https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/squmj/article/view/1987 |
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