Presumed transfer of hepatitis antibody by blood transfusion to chronic hemodialysis patients.
During the winter of 1980 it was noted that some of the patients receiving hemodialysis demonstrated antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core antigen. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the number of chronic hemodialysis patients who demonstrated this seroconversion and the reason(s) for the conversion. Because these patients were known to receive numerous blood transfusions during their hemodialysis therapy and the antibody titers were relatively low and continued to diminish until they again became negative, we were led to the suspicion that the passive transfer of antibody was occurring. Eleven of the 12 (91.6%) chronic hemodialysis patients in whom antibody was detected received blood transfusions (packed red cells) during their dialysis therapy. All 11 of these patients received the blood prior to the detection of either the antibodies in their serum. All these patients had negative serologic test results within 1 year. This study indicates that patients who receive blood transfusions, especially numerous transfusions, can passively acquire these hepatitis B markers.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens