HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTIONS IN TURKISH CHILDREN WITHHEMOPHILIA

We examined 41 Turkish children with haemophilia for evidence of hepat itis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections using the en zyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatitis B surface antigen w as found to be positive in 11 patients (26.8%) and HCV-specific antibo dy (anti-HCV) was detected in 10 (24.4%) patients. There was a close r elationship of the number of transfusions of blood plasma to the prese nce of HCV specific antibody, but not to the serum markers of HBV infe ction. In countries where HBV infection is commonly seen and problems in transfusion practice continue, as in Turkey, children with haemophi lia are at greater risk for HBV and HCV infections.