Frequency of hepatitis C in acute post-transfusion hepatitis after open-heart surgery: a prospective study in 1,476 patients.
Post-transfusion hepatitis was studied prospectively in 1,476 patients undergoing open-heart surgery between 1985 and 1988. Thirty-three (2.2%) patients suffered from post-transfusion hepatitis. Acute post-transfusion hepatitis was attributed to hepatitis B in one case and to hepatitis C in ten patients (0.7%). Four additional patients had preexisting serologic markers of hepatitis C. In 22 (1.5%) patients, hepatitis B or C was excluded as a cause of liver disease. Seroconversion for hepatitis C virus occurred from 3 weeks to more than 6 months after infection. Chronic hepatitis C developed in four patients. In addition, seroconversion to anti-HCV was observed in four patients with moderately elevated aminotransferases. In the control patients anti-HCV antibodies were found in 0.5%. The characteristics of acute hepatitis C after blood transfusion are shown and compared to 22 patients with acute hepatitis non-A, non-B, non-C. The etiology of these 22 cases is discussed.
Peters
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
Schlayer
H J
HJ
Preisler
S
S
Kopp
B
B
Berthold
H
H
Gerok
W
W
Rasenack
J
J
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000637:Transaminases