Transfusion transmitted diseases in haemophilics from western India

Background & objectives :Transfusion related human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections have b een a major cause for morbidity and mortality in the haemophilic population in the west. The prevalence of these markers of transfusion transmitted vi ral diseases in severe and moderate haemophilia patients was studied. Methods : The seropositivity for these viral markers was evaluated in 400 h aemophilics (323 severe and 77 moderate) in a 5-year survey starting from 1 995. First 188 of these patients were also tested for HCV. Serological test s for HIV, HBsAg and HCV were done by third generation ELISA; positive samp les were also confirmed by Western blot. Results : Fifteen of the 400 patients were found to be HIV positive (3.8%), 24/400 were HBsAg positive (6%) and 45/188 (23.9%) were positive for HCV ( 28 for both non-structural and core antigen, 13 for core only and 4 for non -structural antigen only). The lowest age of HIV positivity was 12 yr and t hat of HCV positivity was 8 yr. Interpretation & conclusion : The above study shows a reduction in blood pr oduct related HIV transmission in severe and moderately affected haemophili cs but more stringent policy for blood product usage, universal hepatitis C screening, hepatitis B vaccination and continuous awareness programmes for medical staff, general public and patients is needed to reduce the inciden ce of these diseases in haemophilics.