Posttransfusion hepatitis in Spain. A prospective study.

The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis was prospectively investigated in 230 cardiac surgery patients, 40 patients (17.4%) developed clinical and/or biological signs of hepatitis. In 10 cases (25%), the illness was due to hepatitis B virus infection. 1 patient (2.5%) had serological evidence of cytomegalovirus infection with clinical signs of hepatitis. In 29 cases (72.5%), the hepatitis was considered to be due to non-A, non-B agent(s). Of the 29 patients in this latter group, 16 have persistent transaminase elevations after 1 year, thus suggesting the development of chronic liver disease.