Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible viral markers in sickle cell disease patients and healthy controls in Ile-Ife, South-Western Nigeria: A case–control study

Background: The risk of acquiring transfusion transmissible viral infections is said to be higher in patients requiring regular blood transfusions such as those with sickle cell disease (SCD). Aim: We determined the seroprevalence of blood transfusion viral markers among our patients with SCD. Subjects and Methods: This a case–control analytical study consisting of 82 confirmed SCD patients on routine follow-up at our facility in steady state and 90 age-matched controls. Demographic and transfusion history were recorded while 5 ml of blood was drawn for hematocrit levels, and serum tested for transfusion transmissible viral markers for hepatitis B, (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], hepatitis B surface antibody [HBsAb], hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg], hepatitis B e antibody [HBeAb], hepatitis B core antibody [HBcAb]), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs) using the rapid test kits. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board and each participant gave informed consent. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The seroprevalence of HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBeAg in cases was 2 (2.4%), 7 (8.5%), and 0 (0.0%), respectively, whereas it was 7 (8.5%), 11 (13.4%), 6 (7.3%), and 2 (2.4%) for HBeAb, HBcAb, HCV, and HIV antibodies. Compared to the controls, cases had higher prevalence rate of HBeAb (P = 0.005). No significant difference was observed in those with or without low hematocrit (≤18%) or those that received blood transfusion and those that did not (P > 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that blood transfusion did not significantly increase the seroprevalence of markers of transfusion transmissible viral infection in SCD patients