INVESTIGATION OF PREVALENCE HCV, AMONG THALASSEMIA PATIENTS IN THI-QAR PROVINCE SOUTHERN IRAQ

Objective This study aimed to detect the extent of prevalence of HCV infection among thalassemia patients, who attended a hereditary blood diseases center. Method In the duration of the study in the period from September 2016 to March 2017, a total of 645 patients with thalassemia in the hereditary blood diseases center, in Thi Qar have been screened and 91 patients have been shown clinical evidences with hepatitis C virus and performed the clinical examination of hepatitis C patient's samples via (ELISA) test. Results 91 from 645 thalassemia patients were infected with HCV (14.10%), 46 males and 45 females, 94 splenectomies, 59 male and 35 females, also that blood group O was widespread and AB was least. Conclusions Viral hepatitis C is less prevalent in thalassaemic patients in Thi-Qar province (14.10%) from other cities. The important of the routine screening of Blood Donor Program in limited infection between blood recipients or their products.