THE SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-B, HEPATITIS-C AND HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTIONS IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS IN TURKEY

One hundred and two newly diagnosed children with malignancy followed up at the Pediatric Oncology Department of Ankara Oncology Hospital we re investigated for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficienc y virus markers. The ages ranged between seven months and 17 years wit h a median of 10 years; 62 were male. Twenty-four patients had Hodgkin 's disease, 11 had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 67 patients had other so lid tumours. Four patients had positive HBs-Ag, 15 developed immunity against hepatitis B and had anti-HBs antibodies. One patient had a pre vious infection with positive anti-HBc. Hepatitis C virus antibodies w ere positive in only one patient. HIV serology was negative in all pat ients. These results show the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus inf ection in paediatric oncology patients. In countries where hepatitis B is endemic, strict screening of blood donors, usage of disposable equ ipment and vaccination of patients is recommended. Although the incide nce of hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus infections are ris ing, infection with hepatitis B is still by far the most common.