Comparison of seropositivity of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis among Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme-Donors versus voluntary cornea donors at a large eye bank in Eastern India

Seropositivity of blood samples of 31,355 cornea donors from a tertiary care network of eye banks

PURPOSE

To evaluate the seropositivity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis from blood samples of cornea donors and assess correlation between seropositivity for HIV and syphilis.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of blood samples of 31,355 cornea donors for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis was performed. Postmortem blood samples were analyzed by a rapid screening test for anti-HIV envelope antibodies against HIV 1 and 2, HBV surface antigen, antibody to HCV and anti-cardiolipin antibodies for syphilis by rapid plasma reagin test.

RESULTS

The overall seropositivity rate was 4.28% (1343/31,355 donors). All positive donors were reactive for a single serological test. The seropositivity rate for HIV was 0.93% (95% CI 0.83-1.04%), for HBsAg was 1.56% (95% CI 1.43-1.7%), for HCV was 1.19% (95% CI 1.08-1.33%) and for syphilis was 0.59% (95% CI 0.52-0.69%). The trends in seropositivity rates showed a decline for three viral markers: HIV (2010, 1.17% to 2018, 0.72%, p = 0.02), HBsAg (2010, 1.98% to 2018, 1.05%, p = 0.0006) and HCV (2010, 1.32% to 2018, 0.43%, p < 0.0001). The seropositivity rates for syphilis showed a progressive increase when compared to baseline (2010, 0.14% to 2018, 1.14%, p < 0.0001). There was no relationship between seropositivity for HIV and syphilis (p = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall seropositivity for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis was 4.28%. Seropositivity was highest for HBV. The study did not find correlation between seropositivity of HIV and syphilis.

Donor Profile, Tissue Evaluation and Comparison of Voluntary and Motivated Corneal Donation in Nepal Eye Bank

Purpose

Corneal problems is one of the major causes of blindness in developing countries like Nepal. This study intended to analyze donor and tissue profile of Nepal Eye Bank (NEB).

Material and Methods

This was a cross-sectional descriptive type study. Data of corneal tissues collected by NEB from January 2015 to December 2016 were used in the study. Data collected were demographic profile, cause of death, type of corneal donation (whether voluntary or motivated), quality and utilization of tissues. A comparison was made between voluntary and motivated donors.

Results

1244 corneal tissues were retrieved from 639 donors. Mean age of donors was 49.4 years. 57.7% of the donors were male. There were almost equal number of donor deaths due to cardiovascular disease, 27.2%, and respiratory disease, 26.7%, followed by hanging, 17.8%. Majority of donors were motivated (n = 561, 87.7%). Mean death to preservation time was 5.79 hours (hrs). Of the harvested corneas, 1040 (83.6.%) were suitable for transplant with a mean endothelial cell count of 2850 ± 520 cells/mm²; 16.4% were of poor tissue quality and 2.7% were seropositive. 76.2% of total tissues were of optical quality. Utilization rate of transplantable tissues was 97%. Tissues from motivated donors were significantly “younger” (p=0.0001), had better endothelial count (p=0.0001), and were of better quality (p=0.026) than those from voluntary donors.

Conclusion

Motivated eye donation is a major and effective source of cornea collection in the eye bank under study with “younger” and better quality corneas compared to voluntary donors.

Seroprevalence of Anti-HIV-1, Anti-HIV-2, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, and Anti-HCV in Eye Donors in a Tertiary Eye Hospital, Chennai, India, in the Past 13 years (2005-2017)

PURPOSE

To understand the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in serum samples collected from eye donors between 2005 and 2017 at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.

METHOD

The reports of 7136 eye donors serologically screened for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2, HBsAg, and antibodies to HCV were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULT

Among the 7136 serum samples screened during this study period, the serum samples of 14 donors (0.20%) were reactive to HIV-1 antibodies, 78 donors (1.09%) were positive for detection of HBsAg, and 37 donors (0.52%) were positive for HCV antibodies. Of interest, coinfections of HIV-1 and HBV, and HIV-1 and HCV were detected in 2 and 1 serum sample of the eye donors, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study indicates that there is a trend of reduction in the seropositivity for HIV, HBV, and HCV among eye donors in Chennai over the last decade.