Frequency and characteristics of post‐transfusion hepatitis in Greece with emphasis on hepatitis C: comparing second‐ and third‐generation assays

摘要

SUMMARY.In order to evaluate the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in post‐transfusion hepatitis (PTH) in Greece we prospectively followed 143 transfusion recipients, receiving 790 units of blood and/or products from 789 donors, between October 1989 and December 1991. The mean number of units transfused per patient was 5–52. PTH was observed in 18 patients (12–59). One patient (0–70) developed hepatitis B, in four (2–80) hepatitis could be attributed to CMV infection, 10 (6–99) developed hepatitis C and three (2–10) showed only raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The risk of PTH per 1000 units transfused was 22–8. The patient who developed hepatitis B (PTH‐B) was transfused with four units, one of which was positive for anti‐HBc and anti‐HBe. Seven of the 10 patients (70) who developed hepatitis C (PTH‐C) were transfused with at least one unit seropositive in the anti‐HCV screening with 2nd‐generation tests (ELISA‐2 and RIBA‐2), whereas 9/10 of PTH‐C cases (90) were transfused with at least one unit positive in 3rd‐generation assays. Of the three patients who showed only ALT elevation, none was transfused with anti‐HCV seropositive blood, although one of them was transfused with at least one unit with elevated ALT levels. We conclude that: (1) the incidence of PTH in Greece remains high, (2)screening of all donations for anti‐HCV with an ELISA‐2 does not exclude transmission of HCV and (3) ELISA‐3 and RIBA‐3 seem to be more sensitive in blood donor screening and in dete