HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN THALASSEMIA PATIENTS UNDERGOING ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Ninety-eight patients with homozygous-beta thalassemia who had undergo ne allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between May 1990 and M arch 1992 were tested for hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) before and after BMT. Anti-HCV positivity was detected in 50 of the 98 patients (51%) before BMT. Seroconversion was demonstrated in seven of the 40 e valuable seronegative patients. In four cases it was probably due to t he different sensitivity of first and second generation ELISA. Of the 46 evaluable seropositive patients 4 had transient and 5 persistent ne gativity for HCV antibodies after BMT. The high prevalence of anti-HCV positivity in thalassemic patients is related to the continuous requi rement for blood transfusions. We found a strong correlation between b iochemical and histological evidence of liver damage and anti-HCV posi tive status in multi-transfused patients. In our experience HCV hepati tis does not influence the outcome of BMT.