Hepatitis B and C viral markers in patients with sickle cell disease in Ibadan, Nigeri a

Abstract

Serum samples from ISO Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients attending Medical Out patients (MOP ) clinic of the Department of Haematology, UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria were tested for the presence of HbsAg and anti-HCV in their blood samples. The result showed that HBV infection w a s slightly higher (not significant) than HCV infection among SCD patients (P>0.05). In addition, the result showed that the mean number of transfusion was higher among patients who were scro-positive for both HbsAg (5.0 ± 6.6) and anti- H CV (4.6 ± 6.7) when compared to patients who were negative for both viruses (2.7+ 3.0 and 2.9 +_ 3.2) for HBsAg and anti-HCV respectively. These observations is an indication that there is an urgent need to screen blood units for hepatitis B and C virus infections prior to transfusion in order to reduce HCV infection among SCD patients in Nigeria. Furthermore, it suggests the need to vaccinate SCD patients against HBV in this environment.