Hepatitis B virus infection without immunological markers after open-heart surgery.
Post-transfusion hepatitis is still an important problem, despite the screening of blood donors for hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus infections. We assessed whether HBV DNA might be detected by PCR in prospectively collected serum samples of patients with unexplained post-transfusion hepatitis but no immunological HBV markers. We found HBV DNA in 4 (20%) of 20 patients with unexplained post-transfusion hepatitis and in 5 patients with mildly increased aminotransferases. The clinical course of these HBV infections was usually mild and self-limiting. Thus we found that low-titre, immunologically negative HBV infections do exist and might represent a significant cause of post-transfusion hepatitis.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Albert-Ludwigs Universität, Freiburg, Germany.
J W
JW
Rasenack
H J
HJ
Schlayer
F
F
Hettler
T
T
Peters
S
S
Preisler-Adams
W
W
Gerok
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase