Antibody to hepatitis C virus in thalassemia patients
Isahak, I.; Baharin, R.; Hakim, A.S.; Abu Bakar, M.; George, E.
Malaysian Journal of Pathology 15(1): 85-87
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0126-8635 PMID: 8277796 Document Number: 417358
A specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was developed by recombinant DNA technology. Abbott HCV EIA was used to detect antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in non-transfused and multiply-transfused thalassemia patients. None of 11 non-transfused patients had anti-HCV but 3 of 52 (5.8%) multiply-transfused patients had anti-HCV. This study showed that the prevalence rate of HCV infection is low in thalassemia patients. However, it is still important to identify hepatitis C virus infected patients in high risk groups because hepatitis C is associated with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.