Background:
Patients treated for pediatric malignancy are at high risk of parenterally transmitted viral hepatitis.
Objectives:
To detect the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viral infections in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia & identify some variables that could affect its
prevalence in these patients.
Patients and Methods:
One hundred fifty pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, presented to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, during the period from March 11th
2007 to July 31st 2007 were enrolled in this study; they were 103 males, 47 females, aged (2.25 months- 16 years). Sera of these patients were investigated for hepatitis
markers including HBsAg and Anti HCV antibody.
Results
The majority of patients were from Baghdad 104 (69.33%). Almost all children received 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine according to the national Iraqi vaccination
schedule & 111 (74%) of them received another course of vaccination during their admission to the oncology unit at CWTH. Screening for hepatitis B virus infection was positive in 54 (36%) of cases while for hepatitis C virus infection was positive in 4 (3.25%) of cases.
Conclusion
Multiple blood transfusions and prolonged duration of observation of patients showed significant statistical impact on the incidence of HBV infection.