Post-transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C virus infection: a study on thalassemia and hemodialysis patients in southeastern Iran

Thalassemia and hemodialysis patients are at risk of blood-transmitted infections due to their long-term need for blood transfusion. Nowadays, control of viral infections, including HCV infections, is one of the main tasks of blood transfusion services worldwide. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the prevalence of HCV infection in thalassemia and hemodialysis patients in Kerman, in southeastern Iran. In this cross-sectional experimental study, 384 (203 hemodialysis and 181 thalassemia) patients were examined for HCV infection. Demographic data were also collected by questionnaire, and HCV infection was screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data were analyzed by chi-square and t-test. Our results showed that 81 (44.7%) thalassemia and 64 (31.5%) hemodialysis patients were infected with HCV. There was a significant relationship between HCV positivity and the frequency of blood transfusion and the duration of dialysis in thalassemia and hemodialysis patients, respectively. Based on our results, the prevalence of HCV infection in thalassemia and hemodialysis patients in the southeastern part of Iran is higher than the other parts. Therefore, it is suggested that clinical and health authorities in southeastern Iran should pay more attention to preventing the transmission of HCV through blood and blood components.