[A comparative analysis of blood donors with antibodies to the hepatitis C virus, positivity for the hepatitis B surface antigen and hypertransaminasemia in Asturias].
BACKGROUND
A comparative study of the differences with respect to prevalence, epidemiologic risk factors, clinical and analytical status and histologic data of blood donors with different liver diseases detected in the same geographical area and time period was carried out.


METHODS
HBsAg or anti-HCV positive blood donors detected in Asturias (Spain) from October 1989-1991, and a third group of 115 consecutive donors with negative viral markers and an increase in ALT, as well as a fourth control group with no alterations were compared with a BMDP statistical program and logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of anti-HCV+ donors was greater than that of those with HBsAg+ in both general donors (0.87% vs 0.28%) as well as in new donors (1.77% vs 1.2%) with a constant incidence of HBsAg+ cases of around 0.16% of the donations with a decrease being observed in the anti-HCV+ (ELISA 1) cases from 0.76% to 0.25%. The mean age was significantly higher among the anti-HCV+ donors with respect to the remaining groups (41 vs 36 years). Likewise, the cases of anti-HCV+ presenting parenteral risk factors, such as intravenous drug addiction, transfusion or surgery were significantly higher, with the latter two having an independent predictive value. Signs or symptoms of liver disease were more frequently detected in the anti-HCV+ (10.8%) vs the HBsAg+ (2.3%) as were an increase in ALT (52.8% vs 12.7%) and histologic signs of chronic hepatitis (36.4% vs 6.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-HCV+ blood donors more frequently present previous parenteral risk factors, signs or symptoms of chronic liver disease, hypertransaminasemia or histologic data of chronic hepatitis, thus its detection in al altruistic blood donor indicates a high probability of chronic subjacent liver disease. This is in contrast to donors with HBsAg+ which do not normally present liver disease and those with hypertransaminasemia with negative viral markers who generally have slight liver lesions.
Suárez
A
A
Sección de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Covadonga, Oviedo.
Riestra
S
S
Rodríguez
M
M
Linares
A
A
Otero
L
L
Rodrigo
L
L
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000637:Transaminases
Análisis comparativo de donantes de sangre con anticuerpos frente a los virus C de la hepatitis, positividad para el antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B y con hipertransaminasemia en Asturias.