Authors: Soha Yazbek Khalil Kreidieh Sami Ramia
Publish Date: 2015/06/26
Volume: 44, Issue: 1, Pages: 11-22
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus HEV is mainly transmitted through contaminated water supplies which make the virus endemic in developing countries including countries of the Middle East and North Africa MENA region Recent reports suggest potential risk of HEV transmission via blood transfusionOne hundred articles were extracted of which 25 were not eligible The articles discussed the seroprevalence of HEV and HEV markers in 12 countries Eight articles provided data on HEV in blood donors The seroprevalence of HEV in the general MENA population ranged from 20 to 375 and was higher in males than in females Prevalence increased with age but exposure seems to be in early lifeIn the MENA region the role of HEV as an infectious threat to blood safety is underinvestigated More data are needed to quantify the risk of transmission and to assess clinical outcomes This requires at least surveillance screening of donors and recipients for HEV markers using sensitive and specific serological tests At the present time serious consideration should be given to selective screening for certain groups of patients eg immunocompromised pregnant women and others who commonly require blood transfusion and are at high risk of hepatic failure or chronicity from HEV infection
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