Decreasing risk of viral transfusion-transmitted diseases in Croatia. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Decreasing risk of viral transfusion-transmitted diseases in Croatia.

Croat Med J. 2000 Jun;41(2):191-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20313040
Grgicevic D; Balija M; Pirc-Tiljak D; Mihaljevic I; Gjenero-Margan I; Zupancic-Salek S; Macek P; Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.; damir.grgicevic@hztm.tel.hr


Abstract: AIM: To assess the risk of viral transfusion-transmitted infections in Croatia. METHODS: The following parameters were analyzed: frequency of blood donations repeatedly reactive for HBsAg and anti-HCV (1993-1999); blood donations confirmed positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV (1997-1999), anti-HIV1/2, and syphilis reactivity (1993-1999); number of registered patients with hepatitis B and C; transfusion-associated hepatitis B and hepatitis C; and frequency of HBV, HCV and HIV markers in patients with congenital bleeding disorders (1993-1998). RESULTS: The frequency of repeatedly reactive HBsAg and anti HCV markers and confirmed positive HBsAg, anti-HCV, and syphilis markers in donors blood decreased during the study, whereas the frequency of anti-HIV1/2 positivity did not change. The frequency of confirmed positive donors in 1999 was 0.068% for HBsAg, 0.035% for anti HCV, 0.002% for anti HIV1/2, and 0.0056% for syphilis. The number of patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and transfusion-associated hepatitis B and C steadily decreased during the 1993-1998 period. The number of transfusion-associated hepatitis patients leveled off in 1997. From the beginning of the follow-up of AIDS patients in 1987, only 7 (2%) of hemophiliacs have been HIV-infected, all before 1990 and due to non-inactivated coagulation factor concentrates. There were no cases of transfusion-associated HIV2 infection in patients with congenital bleeding disorders or transfusion-associated HIV1 infection through transfusion of labile blood components. CONCLUSION: The safety of transfusion therapy in Croatia has improved, and the present risks of viral transfusion transmitted diseases are very low.


Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/TRANSMISSION Blood Transfusion/*ADVERSE EFFECTS Croatia/EPIDEMIOLOGY Hepatitis B/TRANSMISSION Hepatitis C/TRANSMISSION Human Syphilis/TRANSMISSION Virus Diseases/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION

KWDjournalarticleacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/transmissionbloodtransfusion/KWDadverseeffectscroatia/epidemiologyhepatitisb/transmissionhepatitisc/transmissionhumansyphilis/transmissionvirusdiseases/epidemiology/KWDtransmission
001130
A00B1182


Copyright © 2000 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .