Post-transfusion hepatitis and hepatitis-associated antigen in New Delhi

Abstract
A study of 58 random recipients of single or multiple blood transfusions revealed post-transfusion hepatitis in 18·9%, based upon clinical and biochemical assessment. Using counter-immunoelectrophoresis, hepatitis associated antigen (HAA) alone was detected in 27·2% of cases, HAA and/or anti-HAA was found in 45·4% cases of hepatitis, and 13·7% of all the recipients. Out of 8 patients with HAA and/or anti-HAA, 3 remained normal clinically as well as biochemically, while the remaining 5 developed either icteric or anicteric hepatitis. Of the latter, one subject was associated with both antigen and antibody, 2 with antigen and2 with antigen and 2 with antibody alone. Among 306 asymptomatic blood donors, HAA and anti-HAA were found in 16 (5·2%) and 2 (0·65%) cases respectively, without any striking difference in the percentage of HAA in voluntary and professional donors. Of the 102 donors tested for transaminases, 4 showed a minimal abnormality in transaminases, only 2 of which were associated with the antigen. A control group of 1,156 subjects showed antigen in 2·76%.