RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with hemophilia in Zahedan, southeast Iran.
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1516
OP 1519
VO 28
IS 10
A1 Batool Sharifi-Mood
A1 Payman Eshghi
A1 Esmail Sanei-Moghaddam
A1 Mohammad Hashemi
YR 2007
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/28/10/1516.abstract
AB OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in patients with hemophilia in Zahedan, Iran.METHODS: From March 2003 to January 2006, we evaluated 81 hemophiliac patients in Zahedan Hemophilia Center, southeast Iran, for hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV-Ab) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and evaluated the prevalence of HBV/HCV co-infection.RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HCV was 29.6%, and the HBsAg was positive in 4.9%. Four cases had HCV and HBV co-infection. All of the infected patients were unknowingly treated with contaminated plasma products before the middle of 1996.CONCLUSIONS: All hemophiliacs, especially patients who have been treated with unheated clotting factor concentrates, should be evaluated for HCV and HBV infections.