Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in thalassemia.

The presence of anti-HCV antibodies has been examined in a group of 256 consecutive thalassemic patients who received blood transfusions in several countries around the world. Overall 60% were found to be anti-HCV positive. A higher incidence of anti-HCV antibodies was noted in Italian patients with respect to patients living in Eastern countries, and in southern Italy with respect to northern Italy. Because these patients received a large portion of their transfusions before the anti-HCV test became available, these data indicate a higher anti-HCV seroprevalence among Italian blood donors and confirm published data indicating a higher seroprevalence in southern Italy. The anti-seropositivity correlated highly with serum transaminase elevation and with histological diagnoses of chronic active hepatitis.