Comparison Between the Frequency of Hepatitis E Virus Among Major Thalassemia Patients With Control Group in Mashhad, North East of Iran

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis E, a viral infectious disease transmitted through contaminated food and water, can vary from a simple asymptomatic infection to a lethal disease. Patients with frequent blood transfusion have more positive serology test than the others; also patients undergoing dialysis that continuously receive blood have higher serological infection rate. The current study aimed at determining the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in patients with thalassemia major in Mashhad, Iran, compared with a healthy control group. Methods: The study was performed on 150 patients with thalassemia and 150 blood donors attending Mashhad Blood Transfusion Organization laboratory. A 5-mL peripheral blood sample was taken from each person. After the separation of plasma/serum, the samples were stored at -20°C until testing. IgM and IgG antibodies of the samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Then, the collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 and Minitab software. Results: In the group of patients, 89 males (59.3%) and 61 females (7/40%), and in the control group 138 male (92%) and 12 females (8%) were enrolled. According to the results of the tests, 13 (8.6%) subjects in the control group and 4 (2.6%) in the patients group had HEV infection. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age. For a comparison between the 2 groups of patients and controls, abnormal hematological parameters including red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), and hemoglobin (HB) distribution were considered using the Mann-Whitney test. Distribution of blood groups in the study groups was significant, but that of hematological parameters was insignificant. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, HEV was detected in a few cases of patients with thalassemia major.