[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. METHODS AND 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). CONCLUSION: Frequency and impact of chronic transfusion hepatitis C is underestimated.