Abstract:
To determine the prevdence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus
(HCV) in patients who have had multiple transfusions in Sri Lanka. University
Medical Unit at the National Hospital, Colombo, the Cancer Institute,
Maharagama, and the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital, Colombo. Patients One
to 5 ml of blood for serology was collected from 200 multiply transfused patients
(those who have received five or more blood transfusions). The sera were tested
for HCV specific antibodies using a third generation anti-HCV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. All sera giving positive or intermediate EIA results were re-tested
by a commercial HCV Western blot confirmatory test. Of the 200patients, 10
(5%) were repeatedly positive and confirmed by the Western blot. 33% (7121) of
haemophiliacs and 10% (3/31) of thalassaemics were positive for antibodies to
HCY. Antibodies were not detected in other groups of multiply transfused patients
(haemolytic disease, aplastic anemias, chronic renal failure, haematological and
other malignancies) Of the 200 patients, those who have had more than 80 blood
transfusions had a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies to HCY. The
frequency of HCV infection was also higher among those who had received factor
concentrates. 33% of hemophiliacs and 10% of thalassaemics who have received
multiple transfusions were infected with HCV. These findings warrant a larger
study among blood donors, and justify screening and decontamination of blood
and blood products given to haemophiliacs and thalassaemics in Sri Lanka.
