Hepatitis E in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients, in Greece: a single centre experience

Vox Sang. 2017 Oct;112(7):678-679. doi: 10.1111/vox.12572. Epub 2017 Sep 10.

Abstract

Hepatitis E is considered an emerging disease that may be a threat in both developing and industrialized countries all over the world. The risk of chronic hepatitis E virus infection is higher among immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to assess the status of hepatitis E infection in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia from a single centre, in Greece. Our results suggest that the prevalence of hepatitis E infection in this group of patients is low.

Keywords: beta-thalassaemia; hepatitis E; transmission.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Transfusion / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Greece / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis E / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis E / etiology
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thalassemia / complications*
  • Thalassemia / epidemiology
  • Thalassemia / therapy