The Clinical Impact of Screening Blood Donations for Hepatitis E Virus in Catalonia
Author(s)
Mafalda Ramos, MSc1, CRISTINA COLL ORTEGA, MSc2, Elisabet Viayna, PhD3, Brian Custer, PhD4, Mar Riveiro-Barciela, MD5, Marta Bes, MD6, Mark Lamotte, MD7.
1Th(is)²Modeling, Asse, Belgium, 2Grifols, CARY, NC, USA, 3Grifols, Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA, 5Hospital Vall d’Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain, 6Banc de Sang i Teixits, Barcelona, Spain, 7Cardiologist - Health economic specialist, Th(is)²Modeling, Asse, Belgium.
1Th(is)²Modeling, Asse, Belgium, 2Grifols, CARY, NC, USA, 3Grifols, Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA, 5Hospital Vall d’Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain, 6Banc de Sang i Teixits, Barcelona, Spain, 7Cardiologist - Health economic specialist, Th(is)²Modeling, Asse, Belgium.
OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Although usually clinically silent HEV outcomes can be poor in high-risk patients (immunocompromised) who may also develop chronic HEV infection. Aside from zoonotic transmission, transmission by transfusion is well-known. HEV screening in blood donations is not yet mandatory in most settings, but some countries/regions employ it. Consequently, tracing HEV in blood donations is increasing. Procleix UltrioPlex E assay combines screening for HIV-1/2, HBV, HCV and HEV, with 100% sensitivity. This study aims to assess the clinical impact of HEV screening in Catalonia with UltrioPlex E assay.
METHODS: A de novo model of transfustion outcomes was developed in MS Excel. In this model individual donation (IVD) screening was compared to no screening. Within symptomatic HEV patients a distinction is made between hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations (figure 1). Hepatic manifestations can be acute or evolve to chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis. Cases of liver transplant and hepatocellular carcinoma can occur and can progress to mortality. Published literature was used to identify the probability of the different events. The number of HEV infections, hepatic and extrahepatic symptomatic cases avoided, and the number of deaths avoided by performing IVD screening for 1 calendar year were calculated.
RESULTS: In Catalonia, the risk of transfusing HEV RNA positive blood products is 0.036%. For the 85,000 Catalonian blood recipients following HEV screening for 1 calendar year, 92 HEV infections could be avoided. Screening avoids 2.66 and 1.69 neurological and hematological manifestations respectively. Moreover, 0.70 HEV related deaths and 1.93 cases of liver disease are avoided.
CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing prevalence of HEV RNA positive blood donations, more HEV infections can be avoided by adopting IVD for HEV.
METHODS: A de novo model of transfustion outcomes was developed in MS Excel. In this model individual donation (IVD) screening was compared to no screening. Within symptomatic HEV patients a distinction is made between hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations (figure 1). Hepatic manifestations can be acute or evolve to chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis. Cases of liver transplant and hepatocellular carcinoma can occur and can progress to mortality. Published literature was used to identify the probability of the different events. The number of HEV infections, hepatic and extrahepatic symptomatic cases avoided, and the number of deaths avoided by performing IVD screening for 1 calendar year were calculated.
RESULTS: In Catalonia, the risk of transfusing HEV RNA positive blood products is 0.036%. For the 85,000 Catalonian blood recipients following HEV screening for 1 calendar year, 92 HEV infections could be avoided. Screening avoids 2.66 and 1.69 neurological and hematological manifestations respectively. Moreover, 0.70 HEV related deaths and 1.93 cases of liver disease are avoided.
CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing prevalence of HEV RNA positive blood donations, more HEV infections can be avoided by adopting IVD for HEV.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
CO238
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Health Policy & Regulatory, Methodological & Statistical Research
Topic Subcategory
Clinical Outcomes Assessment
Disease
Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)