HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN MULTI-TRANSFUSED CHILDREN WITH HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCY

Transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important hazard of bloo d transfusion and may result in chronic liver disease. 98 children fro m Nottingham and Sheffield with haematological malignancies were studi ed to determine the prevalence of HCV infection by enzyme immunoassay and RT/PCR techniques. The children had been, exposed to up to 184 don ors through red cell and platelet transfusion, the majority prior to r outine testing for HCV infection in blood donors. Only one sample show ed evidence of HCV infection being both ELISA and RT/PCR positive. Non e of the samples taken since donor screening were positive. This provi des reassurance as to the low rate of HCV acquisition in multi-transfu sed patients in this part of the U.K. compared to other parts of the w orld.