POLY TRANSFUSED THALASSAEMIA PATIENTS

PREVALENCE OF VIRAL MARKERS AND MALARIAL PARASITE.

Abstract

Objective: To find out prevalence of Malarial Parasite, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C virus in polytransfused thalassaemia patients and in apparently healthy blood donors, Design; Prospective Study. Setting: Thalassaemia Care Centre, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, Period: From Jan 2006 to April 2006, Material & Method: A total of 150 multitransfused patients of p, thalassaemia major and 150 normal blood donors were included in this study, Results; Thirty percent thalassaemia patients were positive for anti HCV, 14% for HBsAg and 0,7% for anti
HIV antibodies, There was a significant trend in the increase in prevalence of viral markers along with the increase in the number of transfusions, Eight percent positivity for HBsAg, 0% for anti HIV and 2% for anti HCV antibodies were found among blood donors, No Malarial parasite was found on smear in both patient and donors group, Conclusion: The results of this study raise an alarm to existence of a significant risk of transfusion transmitted diseases in our setup.