[Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection in a population of multiply-transfused patients in Colombia].

INTRODUCTION

Although the transfusion of blood products is a common therapy, it carries risk of transmission of infections, especially hepatitus B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

OBJECTIVE

As part of the blood safety initiative, the Pan American Health Organization supported studies to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus infection in Colombia.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Between February and September 2003, a cross sectional study examined 500 multiply-transfused patients at four hospital centers in the cities of Bogota and Medellin. The serum samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using commercial kits.

RESULTS

The seroprevalence of HIV infection was 1.8% (CI 95% 0.5-3.1). The seroprevalence of HBV infection was 18.6% (CI 95% 15.1-22.1). Six risk factors were associated with HIV and HBV infection: (1) receiving more than 48 units of blood or blood components, (2) diagnosis of hemophilia, (3) receiving transfusions for more than one year, (4) receiving whole blood, (5) coinfection with hepatitis C virus and (6) receiving transfusions before 1993.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first epidemiological study with a significant sample size performed in multiply-transfused patients in Colombia. The principal finding was the high prevalence of HBV and HIV infection in patients with diagnosis of hemophilia compared with the other five groups of multiply-transfused patients.