Decreasing risk of viral transfusion-transmitted diseases in Croatia

Aim. To assess the risk of viral transfusion-transmitted infections in Croa tia. Methods. The following parameters were analyzed: frequency of blood donatio ns repeatedly reactive for HBsAg and anti-HCV (1993-1999); blood donations confirmed positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV (1997-1999), anti-HIV1/2, and syp hilis reactivity (1993-1999); number of registered patients with hepatitis B and C; transfusion-associated hepatitis B and hepatitis C; and frequency of HBV, HCV and HIV markers in patients with congenital bleeding disorders (1993-1998). Results. The frequency of repeatedly reactive HBsAg and anti HCV markers an d confirmed positive HBsAg, anti-HCV and syphilis markers in blood donors d ecreased in the study periods, whereas the frequency of anti-HIV1/2 positiv ity did not change. The frequency of confirmed positive donors in 1999 was 0.068% for HBsAg, 0.035% for anti HCV; 0.002% for anti HIV1/2, and 0.0056% for syphilis. The number of patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and tra nsfusion-associated hepatitis B and C steadily decreased during the 1993-19 98 period. The number of transfusion-associated hepatitis patients leveled off in 1997. From the beginning of the follow-up of AIDS patients in 1987, only 7 (2%) of hemophiliacs were HIV-infected, all before 1990 and due to n on-inactivated coagulation factor concentrates. There were no cases of tran sfusion-associated HIV2 infection in patients with congenital bleeding diso rders or of transfusion-associated HIV1 infection through transfusion with labile blood components. Conclusion. The safety of transfusion therapy in Croatia has improved, and the present risks of viral transfusion transmitted diseases are very low.