Antibodies to hepatitis C and other viral markersin multi-transfused patients from Argentina

Results: Patients belonged to five diagnostic categories: onco-hematology (309; 61.3%); hemophilia (96; 19%); acute bloodloss (54; 10.7% ); hemoglobinopathies (35; 6.9%); and hemodialysis (5; 1% ); five patients (1%) had two of the previous conditions. Overall prevalence rates of viral markers were: a-HCV 9.3% (CI95%: 6.7-12.0); a-HBcore 4.8% (CI95: 2.8-6.7); a-HIV 1.2% (CI95%: 0.14-2.2) and HBsAg 0.20%(CI95%: 0.2-0.59). The highest prevalence rates were found among patients living with hemophilia (PLH). There was a significant statistical association (p < 10−5, OR =78.8 [29.7-209.7]) between a-HCV infection and having been transfused before 1993, when screening blood donors for a-HCV became mandatory in our country. The subpopulation of patients exposed to transfusion before 1993 was conformed mostly by PLH (70.9%) and hemoglobinopathies (18.6%). In this subpopulation, we found a significant association (p < 10⃜, OR -40 [5.68-281.66]) between years of exposure to transfusion and a-HCV among the patients under the median age (21.95 years old); however, there was no association for those above the median age (p=0.111). Conclusion: a-HCV was found to be the most prevalent infection in the multi-transfused patient population under study. Most infected individuals were PLH, transfused before 1993. This study will provide support for further research aimed at improving blood safety in Argentina.