[Post-transfusion hepatitis in Navarra. Evidence of acute hepatitis C virus infection without elevation of aminotransferases].
BACKGROUND
To determine the incidence of postransfusion hepatitis (PTH) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood recipients in Navarra and to evaluate the impact of excluding anti-HCV positive donors on the incidence of posttransfusion HCV infection.


METHODS
248 transfusion recipients were included, 150 in a first period before anti-HCV(+) donors exclusion, and 98 in a second period after their exclusion. A serum sample from each patient was collected, bimonthly during the first month and monthly for six months, and another serum sample, twelve months after transfusion. ALT and anti-HCV were tested in each sample with ELISA and RIBA 2nd generation. HCV-RNA was determined with a nested polymerase chain reaction assay.


RESULTS
PTH incidence in 1989 was of 2.9%. This incidence decreased to 1.1% after anti-HCV ELISA 1st generation positive donors exclusion. At present, this incidence, with anti-HCV ELISA 2nd generation positive donors exclusion, is 0.8%. 80% of PTH were caused by HCV. 50% of HCV acute infection, confirmed by positive PCR, had normal ALT.


CONCLUSIONS
In Navarra, HPT incidence is below 1% after anti-HCV(+) donors exclusion. There are subclinics forms of HCV acute postransfusional infection with normal ALT.
Huarte Muniesa
M P
MP
Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona.
Maluenda Colomer
M D
MD
Civeira Murillo
M P
MP
Medarde Agustín
A
A
Prieto Valtueña
J M
JM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D000637:Transaminases
Hepatitis postransfusional en Navarra. Evidencia de infección aguda por el virus de la hepatitis C sin elevación de aminotransferasas.