HEPATITIS B INFECTION IN BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS DUE TO FREQUENT BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS

Abstract

Beta Thalassemia is one of the most widespread hemolytic disorders in children. Hepatitis B infection in Thalassemia patients was reported after numerous transfusions of unscreened blood, and the current study was carried out to ascertain the incidence of Hepatitis B in β-thalassemia major patients, linked to multiple blood transfusion strategies. Our cross sectional study was conducted in Neonatology and Children unit, DHQ hospitals of KP province of Pakistan, alongside the involvement of Thalassemia centers, and included 720 patients, diagnosed as β-Thalassemia Major and supported by multiple transfusions. This normal weight of the participants experienced 42.50+15.6 Kg as well as their average age turned out 13.08+2.6 years. Notably higher group of the individuals (p<0.05) were not vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine (73.88%), whereas just 26.6% (188/720) had been given vaccinations. The individuals getting less than 10, 11-20 and more than 20 transfusions every year consisted of 144 (20%), 314 (43.61%) and 262 (36.38%) patients, accordingly. The affected individuals had substantially transformed hematological parameters (p<0.05). The maximum amount of β-Thalassemia with an incidence rate of 11.53, major Hepatitis B patients were those who received more than 20 blood transfusions per year. Blood transfusions are found to be the most significant risk factor causing an infection with hepatitis B in patients with β-thalassemia major. Despite the high risk, it was also shown that a sizable portion of Thalassemia patients lacked an HBV vaccination. As a result of our study, there is huge need of programs to raise awareness of the importance of screened blood transfusions and the Hepatitis B vaccine are required. Moreover, campaigns should also be started to start pre-marriage screening of individuals having family history of Thalassemia and also there is a need to discourage consanguineous marriages.