SEROPREVALENCE OF TRANSFUSION-TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN PEDIATRIC AND ADULT THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS

Abstract

β-thalassemia major is a transfusion-dependent hematological disorder that exposes patients to an increased risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and pattern of TTIs among pediatric and adult patients with β-thalassemia major receiving regular blood transfusions. A total of 150 diagnosed patients were enrolled, including 85 pediatric (≤18 years) and 65 adult (>18 years) patients. Serum samples were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human parvovirus B19 using third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Overall, 37 patients (24.7%) were seropositive for at least one transfusion-transmitted infection. Hepatitis C virus was the most prevalent infection, detected in 21 patients (14%), followed by hepatitis B virus in 9 patients (6%), human parvovirus B19 in 5 patients (3.3%), and HIV in 2 patients (1.3%). Co-infection with HBV and HCV was observed in 2 patients (1.3%). A higher prevalence of TTIs was observed in adult patients (29.2%) compared to pediatric patients (21.1%). Male patients showed a greater seropositivity rate (29.3%) than females (19.1%). Furthermore, TTI prevalence increased progressively with the duration of transfusion therapy, rising from 14.3% in patients transfused for ≤5 years to 32.1% in those receiving transfusions for more than 10 years. These findings highlight a significant burden of transfusion-transmitted infections among thalassemia patients and underscore the need for strengthened transfusion safety measures and continuous surveillance, particularly in long-term transfusion-dependent individuals.