Viral infections: Epidemiology and treatment

Data from 21 years (2000–2020) of haemovigilance were used to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence rates in repeat blood donors and the occurrence of transfusion-transmitted (TT) viral infections. Blood donors who converted for HIV, HCV or HBV markers within serial three-year analysis periods were included. Epidemiological […]

Occult hepatitis B (HBV) infection (OBI), characterized by low viral loads, accounts for much of the risk of HBV transfusion‐transmitted infection. With anticore antibodies (anti‐HBc) screening introduced in England, the imperative to identify OBI donors has increased. We aimed to develop an ultra‐sensitive PCR system and investigate risk factors for HBV DNA presence in blood […]

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute viral hepatitis in several countries in Europe. HEV is acquired mainly by consumption of contaminated pork but can also be transmitted through blood transfusion. HEV infection is usually self-limited but can become persistent in immunocompromised persons. During the first 30 months of HEV RNA universal […]

The authors  propose practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 coagulopathy in persons with haemophilia. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus-induced infection (COVID-19) can be associated with a coagulopathy mainly responsible for pulmonary microvasculature thrombosis and systemic thromboembolic manifestations. The pathophysiology and management of the COVID-19 coagulopathy are likely more complex in patients with inherited bleeding […]

The work shows the problems faced by Iranian patients with congenital bleeding diseases following the pandemic. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new medical challenge for all individuals, especially for those with underlying disorders, such as congenital bleeding disorders (CBDs). Therefore, the pandemic might significantly change the behaviour of patients with CBDs and results in […]

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus-induced infection (COVID-19) can be associated with a coagulopathy mainly responsible for pulmonary microvasculature thrombosis and systemic thromboembolic manifestations. The pathophysiology and management of the COVID-19 coagulopathy are likely more complex in patients with inherited bleeding diseases such as haemophilia. These individuals might indeed present with both bleeding and thrombotic complications and require […]

It is important that hemophilia treatment centres, in close collaboration with patient organizations, take action to inform people with bleeding disorders about the COVID-19 vaccines and contribute to an effective vaccination program. People with bleeding disorders are not at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 or developing a severe form of the disease, so they are […]

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus-induced infection (COVID-19) can be associated with a coagulopathy mainly responsible for pulmonary microvasculature thrombosis and systemic thromboembolic manifestations. The pathophysiology and management of the COVID-19 coagulopathy are likely more complex in patients with inherited bleeding diseases such as haemophilia. These individuals might indeed present with both bleeding and thrombotic complications and require […]

The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been labelled as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Although person-toperson transmission of the etiologic agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), has been confirmed, it is not known whether COVID-19 may be transmitted by blood transfusion. Notwithstanding the urgent requirement of […]

In this article, the authors describe the case of a mild hemophiliac patient suffering from Covid-19 pneumonia, focusing their attention on how the presence of hemophilia affects the management of COVID pneumonia. The typical symptoms of COVID-19 mimic those of the common season flu. In addition, several changes in the coagulation processes have been observed. […]

In January the SARS-COV-2 infection exploded in the chinese city of Wuhan and spread worldwide. At the moment there are no news on the impact in people with hemophilia. In the letter to the editor recently published (Cui Dongyan et al. Haemophilia. 2020 Apr 1. doi: 10.1111/hae.14000. [Epub ahead of print]) the authors report on […]

With the outbreak of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, a new coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), aroused the attention of the entire world. The current outbreak of infections with SARS-CoV-2 is termed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 in China as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Two other coronavirus infections-SARS in 2002-2003 and […]

Hepatitis B remains a global major public health issue and a viral infection transmissible by transfusion. The risk of HBV transfusion transmitted infection has been reduced by the selection of donors; the continuous improvement of serological assays to detect the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg); the implementation of anti-HBc screening for antibodies against the HBV core […]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important cause of increasing mortality in elderly hemophilia population. Majority of the patients treated with virus non-inactivated factor concentrates prepared from large plasma pools prior to 1985 have been found to be infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), a major risk factor for HCC. A PubMed search of articles published […]

Direct antiviral agents (DAA) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection showed high rates of cure, approaching 95% success. Based on these results some scientific societies have hypothesized complete viral eradication in a couple of decades if DAA treatment is given to all chronic HCV-infected patients. However, the high costs of DAAs […]

Historically in developed countries, reported hepatitis E cases were typically travellers returning from countries where hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic, but now there are increasing numbers of non-travel-related (“autochthonous”) cases being reported. Data for HEV in New Zealand remain limited and the transmission routes unproven. We critically reviewed the scientific evidence supporting HEV transmission […]

At least 20 million hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections occur annually, with >3 million symptomatic cases and ∼60,000 fatalities. Hepatitis E is generally self-limiting, with a case fatality rate of 0.5-3% in young adults. However, it can cause up to 30% mortality in pregnant women in the third trimester and can become chronic in immunocompromised […]

The prevalence of Arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus) infections is increasing worldwide1. Recently, new clusters of autochthonous cases have been reported in countries with temperate climates where the competent vector is present2. This scenario represents a new threat for transfusion medicine3,4. The recent spread of Zika virus, new Dengue outbreaks in previously infection-naïve areas, and the stable […]

After the Chikungunya outbreak in 2007 in Italy, a national Plan for the surveillance of human vector-borne diseases has been implemented and annually updated on the basis of the epidemiological changes based-evidences. The transfusion Authorities cooperates, since 2008, with public health services and veterinary (entomological and ornithological) surveillance systems. In some Italian regions, a common […]

West Nile virus (WNV) has become an increasing issue in the transfusion setting since 2002, when it was firstly shown in the USA that it can be transmitted through blood transfusion. Since then, several precautionary measures have been introduced in Europe in order to reduce the possible risk of transmission via transfusion/solid organ transplantation. In […]

Dengue viruses (DENV) are endemic in over 100 countries, with the majority of infections asymptomatic. Dengue viruses can be trasmitted by trasfusion with several cases reported globally. Currently, there is no approved DENV test for blood screening,and although some pathogen inactivation technologies have been demonstrated to effectively inactivate DENV in plasma and platelet components. To […]

Human immunodeficiency virus positive blood donors pose a risk to blood safety. The Southeastern United States has the highest reported  HIV infection rates. Access to health care, cultural trends, income inequality, poverty, and resistance to advanced diagnostic and prevention techniques are all driving factors of the HIV rates in this area of the country. In […]

In Europe virus infections of hepatitis E (HEV) are mainly caused by genotype 3. The highest seroprevalence for anti-HEV IgG in our continent is found in the Netherlands where it reaches 27% of the donors, followed by France 23.6%; Spain with 20%; Denmark 19.8%; England and Wales 12%. The study was aimed at investigating the […]

HIV-infection is an important risk factor for developing Kaposi sarcoma (KS), but it is unclear whether HIV-positive persons are also at increased risk of co-infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the infectious cause of KS. We systematically searched literature up to December 2012 and included studies reporting HHV-8 seroprevalence for HIV-positive and HIV-negative persons. We used random-effects meta-analysis to combine odds […]

With a clinical history of approximately 11 years, occult HCV infection can be considered an occult type of CHC. Evidences suggest that considering OCI in these high-risk groups seems to be necessary. We suggest that alternative diagnostic tests should be applied and that there is a need for the participation of all countries to determine the epidemiology of […]