Mortality of hepatitis B positive blood donors in England and Wales.

Of 2880 men and 1054 women who were found to be hepatitis B surface antigen positive by the Blood Transfusion Service in England and Wales between 1971 and 1981, more than 92% were traced to the end of 1983. 5 deaths from hepatocellular carcinoma had been reported in men, giving a relative risk compared with the male population of England and Wales as a whole of 42. There had been no deaths from liver cancer in women. In both men and women there was a greater than ten-fold increase in the risk of death from chronic liver disease. Secondary preventive action may be indicated.