Posttransfusion Hepatitis: Efficacy of Prophylactic Gamma Globulin Administration in Prevention of Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis.

摘要

Of 279 cardiac surgery patients receiving a mean of 12 transfusions, 47 had significant transaminase elevations 14-180 days postoperatively and 10 were icteric. Preoperatively, each patient randomly received either high titer anti-HBs gamma globulin, normal gamma globulin, or placebo and was followed at intervals for 9 months. Serologically, only 3 patients had evidence of hepatitis B infection. Three additional patients had serological evidence of cytomegalovirus infection while none had evidence of hepatitis A or Epstein-Barr infection. Less icteric hepatitis occurred in patients receiving the gamma globulin preparations (p = 0.003) and the overall incidence of total hepatitis was significantly diminished when compared to recipients of placebo. There was no significant difference in the protective effect of the two gamma globulin preparations. Most posttransfusion hepatitis today is neither hepatitis B nor A, and its severity and transmission are discussed by pretransfusion gamma globulin administration. (Author)