Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV-1 and Correlation with Molecular Markers among Multi-Transfused Thalassemia Patients in Western India

BACKGROUND: Multitransfused β-thalassemia major patients are always at high risk of having Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs). This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HIV-1/2, and Anti-HCV among these patients and to correlate the same with NAT testing. METHODS: A total of 196 patients with β-thalassemia were included in the study. Patients were screened for the presence of viral markers by third-generation ELISA test as well as for viral DNA/RNA by NAT test. RESULTS: Among 196 multi-transfused Beta-thalassemia patients, the seroprevalence of anti-HCV was very high 100 (51.1%), however, anti-HIV1/2 was 6 (3.1%), and HBsAg were 3 (1.5%). Surprisingly similar patterns were observed in the prevalence of molecular markers, as HCV-RNA were 66 (33.7%) of the patients along with HIV-1 RNA were 8 (4.1%), and HBV-DNA were 5 (2.5%) patients. Overall eight (4.1%) patients were found to have coinfections, where two were positive for HBsAg/anti-HCV by ELISA along with 3 (1.5%) were positive for HBV-DNA/ HCV-RNA, 1 (0.5%) was positive for HIV-RNA/HBV-DNA, and 2 (1%) had coinfection of HIV-RNA/ HCV RNA by NAT testing CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV infection among multi-transfused β-thalassemia patients is significantly higher than that of the HBV and HIV infections. This scenario should be controlled and monitored by doing regular follow-up testing schedules of such patients and also the administration of the booster dose of the HBV vaccine along with HCV treatment with antiviral DAAs.