Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis C Antibodies in Sickle Cell Disease Children under Sixteen in Two University Hospitals of Lome

Abstract

Introduction: Sickle cell disease causes chronic anemia with the need for transfusions. The risk in children to get transfusions transmitted infections is high.
 Aims: Determine the prevalence of HBsAg and HCV antibodies in sickle cell disease children under sixteen in Lome (Togo).
 Study Design: It is a cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Haematology Unit of Campus University Hospital and Paediatric Unit of Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé collected between February to May 2016. Sample processing: Campus Hospital Laboratory.
 Methodology: We collected blood in sickle cell disease patients in Campus and Sylvanus Olympio university hospitals at Lomé and informations about sickle cell type, transfusion, and hepatitis B vaccination. Sera were tested with Cobas e411 Roche® in the determining of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbSAg) and hepatitis C antibodies (HCVAb). Epi Info was used for statiscal analysis ®. Significant associations were found when P<0.05.
 Results: Total of 172 patients from Campus Hospital and 79 from Sylvanus Olympio were included. Sex ratio and SS phenotype were 0.93, 69.8% and 1.32, 64.5% respectively. HBsAg was detected in 1.7% from Campus and 7.6% in Sylvanus Olympio. One patient from Campus carried HCVAb. Significant association between hepatitis B and sex (P=0.02) and hepatitis B and vaccination were found (P= 0.0003). Males were more infected and patients who were unvaccinated carried HBsAg.
 Conclusion: Vaccination against viral hepatitis and best blood donation screening are necessary to avoid these viral diseases in sickle cell disease children.

Reduction in seroprevalence of viral transfusion‐transmitted infections in southwest Nigeria in children with sickle cell disease using an enhanced screening strategy

“…Despite the fact that some studies in Africa have shown a higher prevalence of HBV and HCV among patients with SCD, 59–61 we did not corroborate this in our study. Studies in Nigeria which compared the seroprevalence rates of HBV and HCV among patients with SCD, with and without a history of transfusion with healthy age‐ and sex‐matched controls, did not show a significant difference in prevalence rate of these viral markers among both groups 62–64 .…”