Hepatitis C and blood transfusion among children attending the Sickle Cell Clinic at Mulago Hospital, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for 90% of post-transfusion hepatitis. In Uganda, there has been limited research of prevalence of HCV among sickle cell anaemia (SS) patients, a group at risk for multiple transfusions. Objectives: To establish prevalence of HCV infection and determine whether blood transfusion increases risk among SS patients. Methods 244 SS patients aged 1-18 years were recruited by consecutive sampling. Socio-demographic, clinical and transfusion history was collected. Clinical examination done and blood tested for HCV by MEIA. Results: 244 children were recruited. Of these, 159 (65%) had a history of blood transfusion. Among the transfused, five patients were HCV positive. Four of these were over 12 years of age. Among patients with no history of transfusion, one patient aged 14 years was HCV positive. Risk of HCV was higher among the transfused OR 2.7(CI 0.31-24). Patients who received more than two units were more likely to be HCV positive (p=0.03). Conclusions: HCV prevalence of 2.5% was low but higher than that reported by other investigators in Uganda. Blood transfusion was a major contributing factor in occurrence of HCV. Children who get repeated transfusions should be screened for Hepatitis C and screening of blood for HCV prior to transfusion would help reduce occurrence of the disease.

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence among haemodialysis patients, sickle cell patients and blood donors at a tertiary hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon

“…11,16 Out of 32 sickle cell patients registered in our study, 8.57% (3/35) were found positive for HCV antibodies. This result is different from that of Moussa et al 9 who detected a prevalence of 23% among 70 Egyptian children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Egypt and from that of Namasopo et al 10 who reported a prevalence of 2.5% obtained in 244 children in Uganda. The high rate of the HCV antibodies obtained among these high-risk patients can be explained by multiple blood transfusions received, as all the patients were sickle cell anemia-HbSS.…”

“…A prevalence of HCV infection varying between 1.25 to 33.5% among these patients has been reported in other parts of the world. 6,9,10 The aim of our study was to determine the seroprevalence of HCV in individuals at risk, namely haemodialysis patients, sickle cell patients at the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital and blood donors in Cameroon.…”

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Care Centre in Kerala

“…A study conducted on sickle cell patients in Uganda found HCV prevalence to be high among those receiving blood transfusion. 11 Blood transfusion is considered as a major contributing factor for transmission of Hepatitis C. This study concluded by saying that blood components prior to transfusion must be screened for Hepatitis C and transfusion dependent patients must also be screened for Hepatitis C.…”

Pathogens transmitted in red blood cell transfusions: An up-to-date table

“…Hepatitis C virus 2,11 Klebsiella pneumoniae 29 Hepatitis D virus 12 Propionibacterium acnes 3 Hepatitis E virus 13 Pseudomonas species 3,30 Hepatitis G virus 14 Rickettsia rickettsii 31 Human herpesvirus 8 15 Serratia liquefaciens 32…”