Seroepidemiology of human T-cell lymphotropic virus among Iranian adult thalassemic patients

• Published in: Transfusion medicine (Oxford, England) Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 227 - 232
• Main Authors: Keshvari, M., Hajibeigi, B., Azarkeivan, A., Keyvani, H., Behnava, B., Saiedi Hosseini, S. Y., Sharafi, H., Alavian, S. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2014
• Subjects: Adult; Blood-Borne Pathogens; Deltaretrovirus; Deltaretrovirus Infections - epidemiology; Deltaretrovirus Infections - transmission; Female; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; HTLV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human T-lymphotropic virus; Humans; Iran; Iran - epidemiology; Male; Seroepidemiologic Studies; thalassemia; Thalassemia - epidemiology; Thalassemia - therapy; Transfusion Reaction; Iran; thalassemia; HTLV
• ISSN: 0958-7578; 1365-3148
• DOI: 10.1111/tme.12133

SUMMARY
Background
A large number of transfusion‐dependent thalassemic patients is at a substantial risk for transfusion‐transmitted infections. Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a blood‐borne pathogen and can be transmitted via cellular products. We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of HTLV in transfusion‐dependent thalassemic patients referred to Tehran Adult Thalassemia Clinic.
Methods
From 2008 to 2010, 257 transfusion‐dependent thalassemic patients who referred to Tehran Adult Thalassemia Clinic were enrolled. The seroprevalence of HTLV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV were assessed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Also, the samples with positive result for anti‐HTLVAb (by ELISA) were reassessed using Western blot for HTLV.
Results
Among the 257 transfusion‐dependent thalassemic patients who were tested for anti‐HTLVAb, 29 (11·3%, 95%CI = 7·8–15.6%) were found to be anti‐HTLVAb positive by ELISA and Western blot. No case was detected to be HBsAg positive, whereas 16% had HBV seroconversion criteria, and more than 95% had anti‐HBsAb in their sera. Also, 103 (40·1%) patients were HCV seropositive, 13 (5·1%) patients of which were co‐infected with HCV/HTLV. Among the HTLV‐infected patients, 44·8% were co‐infected with HCV, whereas 39·5% of HTLV‐seronegative individuals were HCV mono‐infected (P > 0·05).
Conclusion
This study showed that transfusion‐dependent thalassemic patients were in higher risk for transmission of different blood‐borne pathogens such as HTLV. The screening of HTLV in Iranian blood donors is recommended.