AIMS: To investigate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in long term survivors of haematological malignancy treated before the introduction of blood donor screening in September 1991. METHOD: Patients were tested for evidence of HCV infection by third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, a recombinant immunoblot assay and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum aspartate aminotransferase activities were measured. The number and type of blood component units received by each patient were recorded. RESULTS: Forty two patients were studied who had received a total of 7143 blood component units. Two patients (4.8%) were found to have HCV infection, both had histological evidence of chronic active hepatitis, and one is now receiving treatment with alpha-interferon. Both of these patients had been missed by the ongoing look-back programme which aims to detect recipients of all known HCV infected blood components. CONCLUSION: Although HCV infection affects a minority of long term survivors of haematological malignancy, infected patients may benefit from alpha-interferon treatment. The screening of all patients treated for haematological malignancy before September 1991 is advocated.
AIMS: To investigate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in long term survivors of haematological malignancy treated before the introduction of blood donor screening in September 1991. METHOD:Patients were tested for evidence of HCV infection by third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, a recombinant immunoblot assay and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum aspartate aminotransferase activities were measured. The number and type of blood component units received by each patient were recorded. RESULTS: Forty two patients were studied who had received a total of 7143 blood component units. Two patients (4.8%) were found to have HCV infection, both had histological evidence of chronic active hepatitis, and one is now receiving treatment with alpha-interferon. Both of these patients had been missed by the ongoing look-back programme which aims to detect recipients of all known HCV infected blood components. CONCLUSION: Although HCV infection affects a minority of long term survivors of haematological malignancy, infectedpatients may benefit from alpha-interferon treatment. The screening of all patients treated for haematological malignancy before September 1991 is advocated.
Authors: D J Mutimer; R F Harrison; K B O'Donnell; J Shaw; B A Martin; H Atrah; F A Ala; S Skidmore; S G Hubscher; J M Neuberger Journal: BMJ Date: 1994-10-01
Authors: C Ferri; F Caracciolo; A L Zignego; L La Civita; M Monti; G Longombardo; F Lombardini; F Greco; E Capochiani; A Mazzoni Journal: Br J Haematol Date: 1994-10 Impact factor: 6.998
Authors: N S Brink; R Chopra; C J Perrons; C J Ring; J A Garson; E M Briggs; A H Goldstone; D C Linch; R S Tedder Journal: Br J Haematol Date: 1993-03 Impact factor: 6.998