Liver disease in blood donors with raised transaminases
Ng, H.W.; Ng, H.S.; Teh, L.B.; Ho, J.; Cheah, E.; Ong, Y.W.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 15(2): 206-209
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0304-4602 PMID: 3752895 Document Number: 286097
1000 consecutive blood donors had their liver functions studied. 110 donors (11%) were found to have raised ALT of more than twice normal levels. 29 donors had liver biopsies done. Histologically 23 had fatty change, 5 had chronic persistent hepatitis and 1 had liver cirrhosis. Fourteen out of the 23 donors with fatty change also had hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Viral serology of the 110 donors showed that 3 donors were HBsAg positive, 5 donors were Anti-HAV (IgM) positive and 20 donors were Anti-HBc (IgM) positive. Majority of donors with raised ALT had fatty liver on biopsy with only 6 donors having significant findings of chronic persistent hepatitis and cirrhosis. Serologically, most of the donors (74.5%) with raised ALT had no markers of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, CMV or EBV. An interesting finding is the high incidence (18%) of positive, Anti HBc (IgM) in donors with raised ALT.