POSTTRANSFUSION VIRAL-INFECTIONS IN PATIE NTS WITH HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES

Thalassemic patients are among the most transfused patients, and there fore the most exposed to transfusion-transmitted infections. Prevalenc e of anti-HIV antibodies before systematic blood donations screening h as been evaluated at 1,56% in a European study. Since implementation o f this screening, seroconversion to HIV has been drastically reduced. A prevalence around 40% of patients with anti-hepatitis C antibodies h as been found in another European study, using second generation tests . Another conclusion of this last study was that the vaccinal coverage against hepatitis B was insufficient. Sickle cell patients receive va riable transfusional supplies. When they are transfused monthly, they have the same transfusional risk as thalassemic patients. As some pati ents may need to be transfused in Africa, where the transfusional risk is important, most medical teams prefer to transfuse sickle cell pati ents before any travel to Africa.