Hepatitis B or non-A, non-B virus infection in multitransfused thalassaemic patients. Issue 12 (December 1984)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moroni, G A; Piacentini, G; Terzoli, S; Jean, G; Masera, G
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 59:Issue 12(1984)
• Page Start: 1127
• Page End: 1130
• Publication Date: 1984-12
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.59.12.1127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : We undertook a four year study of 128 thalassaemic patients who had undergone several transfusions, to determine the incidence of hepatitis B virus markers and the activities of transaminases in their sera each month. The results showed that the possibility of these patients contracting hepatitis B virus infection is still high, although on only one occasion was a transient antigenaemia found, indicating low viral replication. Furthermore, the probability of contact with hepatitis B virus increases with the number of transfusions and, therefore, with age. About 25% of these patients were positive for hepatitis B markers and 80% for other hepatitis markers including the case of cytomegalovirus hepatitis.