Frequencies of hepatitis B, delta and human immune deficiency virus markers in multitransfused Saudi patients with thalassaemia and sickle-cell disease.

Abstract

Frequencies of hepatitis B, delta and human immune deficiency virus markers were investigated in multitransfused thalassaemic (212) and sickle-cell disease (173) patients from four different regions of Saudi Arabia. Irrespective of the region, thalassaemics had higher exposure rate to HBV (14.7-31.6% HBsAg; 79.4-97.9% all markers) than sickle-cell disease patients (9.4-27.5% HBsAg; 45.3-85% all markers) and controls (5.8-21.3% HBsAg; 30.8-72.5% all markers). Evidence of delta infection was found in thalassaemics from all regions (7.1-21.0%); also, the prevalence of anti-delta was higher in thalassaemics than in sickle-cell disease patients and controls. Only five thalassaemics were positive for antibody to the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). In the light of these results, screening of all donated blood for HBsAg and for anti-HIV by the most sensitive techniques is essential. Furthermore, early vaccination of Saudi children with thalassaemia and sickle-cell disease against HBV is recommended.