HBsAg-negative post-transfusion hepatitis
Hernández Sánchez, J.M.; Vargas, V.; Pedreira, J.D.; Esteban, R.; Ruíz, J.; Guardia, J.; Bacardi, R.
Sangre 24(2): 143-147
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-4355 PMID: 462333 Document Number: 148445
Since some [hepatitis B] surface-antigen (HBsAg)-negative hepatitis show positive core Ag antibodies [Ab] (anti-HBc), they may be due to type-B hepatitis virus. Hepatitis can be transmitted by HBsAg-negative blood with anti-HBc Ab. Nine cases of post-transfusion hepatitis plus 2 patients transfused with HBs-Ag-negative, anti-HBc-positive blood, were studied. Of the post-transfusion hepatitis patients, 5 had positive anti-HBc with a short incubation period (15-35 days). No hepatitis appeared in patients transfused with HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive blood after 4 mo., the determinations for HBsAg and anti-HBc being consistently negative. These findings stress the necessity for studying anti-HBc Ab before considering a given case of hepatitis as non-B; HBs-negative, anti-HBc-positive blood may be non-infective in some instances.