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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in patients with hemophilia in Zahedan, Iran. METHODS: From March 2003 to January 2006, we evaluated 81 hemophiliac patients in Zahedan Hemophilia Center, southeast Iran, for hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV-Ab) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and evaluated the prevalence of HBV/HCV co-infection. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HCV was 29.6%, and the HBsAg was positive in 4.9%. Four cases had HCV and HBV co-infection. All of the infected patients were unknowingly treated with contaminated plasma products before the middle of 1996. CONCLUSIONS: All hemophiliacs, especially patients who have been treated with unheated clotting factor concentrates, should be evaluated for HCV and HBV infections.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

1516

Last Page

1519

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