Asia Pacific Journal of Pediatric and Child Health

Abstract Ref Number = APCP946

Poster Presentation

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C INFECTION AND THE ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS IN MOH HOESIN HOSPITAL PALEMBANG

Aulia Rusyda,Dian Puspita Sari,Yulia Iriani Departement of Child Health Faculty of Medicine Sriwijaya University Mohammad Hoesin Hospital Palembang Departement of Child Health Faculty of Medicine Sriwijaya University Mohammad Hospital Palembang

Background : One of the complications of routine transfusion is acquiring transfusion transmitted infection, including hepatitis C. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection varies among the countries (4.4-85.4%). It is mostly asymptomatic in early stages and may give serious complications later. The aims of this study are to identify the prevalence of hepatitis C infection and factors associated with it. Material : A cross sectional study was conducted on thalassemia major patients at the Department of Child Health of Dr. Moh Hoesin Hospital in Palembang. The subjects were screened for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA test was performed on subjects with positive anti-HCV test. We noted age of hepatitis C infection was diagnosed, duration of time infected of Hepatitis C, presence of icterus, number of transfusions per months, ferritin level, anti-HCV level, and aminotransferase level. Results : Of 158 subjects, 116 (73.4%) were female, and the age range was 12 to 204 months. Fourty six of 158 subjects (29.1%) tested positive for anti-HCV which 20/46 (12,6%) were positive for HCV-RNA. The age of thalassemia patients at time of diagnosis ranged from 14 to 219 months. The median duration of infection was 65 months (7 to 177 months). Fourty-three of 46 subjects (93.4%) with anti-HCV positive had no icterus. The subjects who were positive for anti-HCV showed significantly higher number of transfusion (median 3 vs 2; p=0.002), number of elevated aminotransferase levels (54.54% vs 8.2%; p<0.001) and ferritin serum level (3950 vs 2342; p=0.01). A significant correlation was found between anti-HCV level and viral load (r=0.622). There was no correlation between viral load and ferritin level (r=0.003). Conclusions : The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is 29.1%. There are significant association between hepatitis C infection and number of blood bag, aminotransferase level and ferritin level. A significant correlation was found between anti-HCV level and viral load.

Keywords: Thalassemia hepatitis C anti-HCV HCVRNA