Transfusion hepatitis. Occurrence and comparison of risks of blood transfusion and surgery

The incidence of hepatitis (B and non-A, non-B) was determined in a prospective multicentre study of 1100 hospital patients during 12 months without or after surgery and with or without transfusion. The incidence was 3.6% (4 of 111 patients) after surgery and transfusion, and 0.5% (5 of 989) without transfusion - with or without surgery. The incidence of hepatitis B was significantly higher in the transfused group, while non-A, non-B hepatitis had the same incidence in all three groups. Hepatitis was clinically manifest in only three of the nine patients. The remaining six silent ones were uncovered by a careful prospective follow-up plan. Thus the incidence of hepatitis in this study was higher than has been reported in retrospective series. However, the absolute number of cases is small and the confidence limits thus rather wide: the incidence of non-A, non-B hepatitis must be interpreted with caution.