Prospective assessment of donor blood screening for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen as a means of preventing posttransfusion non-A, non-B, hepatitis.
The relationship between donor status for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and the occurrence of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis in the recipient was prospectively studied in 112 patients undergoing open-heart surgery who were followed for 6.5 months after surgery. Non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis occurred in five (7.93%) of 63 patients who had received at least one anti-HBc-positive blood unit compared to seven (14.28%) of 49 patients who received anti-HBc-negative blood only. Statistical analysis revealed that the incidence of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis was independent of the use of blood positive for anti-HBc. Based upon these results and the high prevalence (17.3%) of anti-HBc among our blood donor population, the exclusion of anti-HBc-positive blood does not seem appropriate to achieve a reduction in the incidence of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis.
Hoyos
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Sarrión
J V
JV
Pérez-Castellanos
T
T
Prieto
M
M
Marty
M L
ML
Garrigues
V
V
Berenguer
J
J
D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens