HCV INFECTION AND ITS CLINICAL-FEATURES IN RECIPIENTS OF BLOOD SCREENED FOR HCV (C100-3) ANTIBODY

After adoption of the anti-hepatitis C virus (C100-3) test, the incide nces of definite and suspected cases of post-transfusional hepatitis ( PTH) were 3.3% (7/209) and 7.2% (15/209), respectively. Four patients with definite PTH and seven patients with suspected PTH became positiv e for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related antibodies or HCV-RNA after tran sfusion. These cases that became positive for anti-HCV or HCV-RNA show ed a peak of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than 4 weeks after op eration. Only rare cases that showed ALT peaks within 4 weeks after op eration became positive for HCV-related antibodies or HCV-RNA. The pea k ALT levels in cases showing positive conversion tended to be higher than those in cases showing no conversion. Judging from these results, cases of suspected PTH include those of transient liver disease attri butable to surgery as well as clear cases of HCV infection. Thus new d iagnostic criteria are required including data on HCV antibodies or HC V-RNA.