Chandi Kapoor, Muhammad Hanif, Muhammad Iqbal.
Poly transfused Thalassemia patients; prevalence of viral markers and malarial parasite.
Professional Med J Jan ;14(1):177-80.

Objective: To find out prevalence of Malarial Parasite, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and c virus in poly transfused thalassaemia patients and in apparently healthy blood donors. Design: Prospective Study. Setting: Thalassemia care centre, Bolan Medical complex Hospital, Quetta. Period: From Jan 2006 to April 2006. Material & Method: A total of 150 multi transfused patients of b 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.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com