Contributions
Abstract: PB2190
Type: Publication Only
Background
Hepatitis E (HE) is nowadays considered an emerging disease that may be a threat in both developing and industrialized countries all over the world. The causal agent is an RNA virus, transmitted mainly through the fecal-oral route. Nevertheless, there are additional patterns of transmission, including the transfusion of infected blood products. The risk of developing chronic HE infection following transfusion of infected blood–derived products is higher among immune-compromised individuals. Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia patients consist a distinct category of immune-compromised patients, but the data regarding transfusion-transmitted HE infection are limited for this group of patients. Accordingly, there is, as yet, no consensus on whether blood products should be systematically screened for markers of the HE virus
Aims
The aim of this study was to assess the status of Hepatitis E infection in 96 transfusion-dependent Thalassemia patients, followed up in a single Thalassemia Unit, in Northern Greece.
Methods
Over a one-month period, we retrospectively evaluated 96 consecutive patients, from a registry of 150 adult TDT patients followed at a single Thalassemia Unit, in Northern Greece. The mean age of the study population was 36±10 years, 42% were male and 58% female. According to the patients’ blood transfusion history, the participants had been transfused with 47.376 blood units during the last 14 years, whereas during the last year the same patient population had been transfused with 3.384 blood units. The detection of HEV RNA was performed by Real-Time RT-PCR method (hepatitise2@ceeramTools kit, Applied Biosystems ABI), according to the instructions. The detection of HEV was based on the identification of the 'a' region of ORF2. The detection of IgG anti-HEV antibodies and their titration were performed in 92/96 samples using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (CUSABIO BIOTECH kit), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The cut-off value was calculated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Results
HE RNA was not detected in any of the 96 samples, whereas the IgG anti-HEV antibodies were also negative in all measured samples. The negative HEV RNA, in all the participants of this study, indicates the absence of an active HE infection, whereas the negative IgG anti-HEV antibody titre implicates that there was no history of previous HE infection. According to the literature, IgG antibodies may be detectable following an HE infection for a time period that varies from one year to 14 years.
Conclusion
This is the first assessment of the HE virus seroprevalence in the population of TDT patients in Greece, over the last two decades. Our results suggest that TDT patients are not at a high risk for HE infection. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical importance of the transfusion-transmitted HE infection in TDT patients and clarify whether screening of blood donors is necessary for countries with a lower or higher prevalence of HE.
Session topic: 26. Thalassemias
Keyword(s): Transfection, Hepatitis, Beta thalassemia
Abstract: PB2190
Type: Publication Only
Background
Hepatitis E (HE) is nowadays considered an emerging disease that may be a threat in both developing and industrialized countries all over the world. The causal agent is an RNA virus, transmitted mainly through the fecal-oral route. Nevertheless, there are additional patterns of transmission, including the transfusion of infected blood products. The risk of developing chronic HE infection following transfusion of infected blood–derived products is higher among immune-compromised individuals. Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia patients consist a distinct category of immune-compromised patients, but the data regarding transfusion-transmitted HE infection are limited for this group of patients. Accordingly, there is, as yet, no consensus on whether blood products should be systematically screened for markers of the HE virus
Aims
The aim of this study was to assess the status of Hepatitis E infection in 96 transfusion-dependent Thalassemia patients, followed up in a single Thalassemia Unit, in Northern Greece.
Methods
Over a one-month period, we retrospectively evaluated 96 consecutive patients, from a registry of 150 adult TDT patients followed at a single Thalassemia Unit, in Northern Greece. The mean age of the study population was 36±10 years, 42% were male and 58% female. According to the patients’ blood transfusion history, the participants had been transfused with 47.376 blood units during the last 14 years, whereas during the last year the same patient population had been transfused with 3.384 blood units. The detection of HEV RNA was performed by Real-Time RT-PCR method (hepatitise2@ceeramTools kit, Applied Biosystems ABI), according to the instructions. The detection of HEV was based on the identification of the 'a' region of ORF2. The detection of IgG anti-HEV antibodies and their titration were performed in 92/96 samples using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (CUSABIO BIOTECH kit), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The cut-off value was calculated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Results
HE RNA was not detected in any of the 96 samples, whereas the IgG anti-HEV antibodies were also negative in all measured samples. The negative HEV RNA, in all the participants of this study, indicates the absence of an active HE infection, whereas the negative IgG anti-HEV antibody titre implicates that there was no history of previous HE infection. According to the literature, IgG antibodies may be detectable following an HE infection for a time period that varies from one year to 14 years.
Conclusion
This is the first assessment of the HE virus seroprevalence in the population of TDT patients in Greece, over the last two decades. Our results suggest that TDT patients are not at a high risk for HE infection. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical importance of the transfusion-transmitted HE infection in TDT patients and clarify whether screening of blood donors is necessary for countries with a lower or higher prevalence of HE.
Session topic: 26. Thalassemias
Keyword(s): Transfection, Hepatitis, Beta thalassemia