[Chronic transfusion hepatitis--an underestimated disease].
BACKGROUND
The 12th Deutsche Bundestag constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate infections transmitted by blood and blood products. 1,358 patients, infected with HIV, mostly suffering from hemophilia were registered. Transfusion-associated hepatitis was not recorded.


RESULTS
In a general hospital, a prospective study during 12 months revealed that chronic hepatitis C was associated in 43% with previous transfusion of blood whereas no case of HIV-infection, transmitted by blood or blood products was observed (p < 0.01). The frequency of blood transfusion in patients without chronic hepatitis and without AIDS was 18.5%, also significantly different from patients with chronic hepatitis C (p < 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
Frequency and impact of chronic transfusion hepatitis C is underestimated.
Henschel
M
M
DRK-Krankenhaus Neuwied.
Kilburg
M
M
Feurle
G E
GE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
Die chronische Transfusionshepatitis--eine unterbewertete Krankheit.