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Metabolic features of parenteral feeding with conventional amino acid solutions were examined in 47 patients over a long period. 30 patients were kept alive by artificial respiration. The metabolic parameters ammonium, blood urea nitrogen, GOT, alkaline phosphatase were carried out, in 6 patients the pattern of amino acids was analysed. All patients showed a significant increase of ammonium during the course of parenteral feeding. The amino acids demonstrated pattern of imbalance. The other other parameters were not changed significantly. Traumatic, hypoxic or toxic liver damage might influence the reduction of liver function.

A screening of hepatic function and HBs-antigen, made in 22344 voluntary blood donors in the bloodbank of Innsbruck, gave the following results: 0,33% HBs-AG negative donors were found to have pathological liverfunctiontests. Overweight and alcohol would be established as the most important etiological factors. 0,4% of the donors are carriers of the HBs-antigen. A control examination after 2 years showed a persistence of that antigenemia. Antigen carriers are requested to have regular examinations. Since HBs-AG positive hepatitis is not only transferred by blood and blood-constituents, it would be important to use the same screening methods applied in the blood donor organisation throughout any hospital area, to reduce the incidence of this disease.

In the course of a field study in which the blood banks of Vienna, Linz and Innsbruck were involved, the HTLV-III-antigen EIA, developed by Abbott laboratories for research means, was tested for its usefulness in routine blood transfusion. Through the registration of donors newly infected with the HIV virus, who at the time showed no seroconversion, the aim was to narrow the 'diagnostic window' of the HIV infection, and to increase the security of routine blood transfusion. Parallel to the testing of all donors of the Zentralinstitut für Bluttransfusion in Innsbruck for HIV antigens and HIV antibodies, neopterin serum was also measured.

As organ transplantation steadily gains in importance, transfusion medicine becomes more important too. We would like to show the problematic nature of blood replacement on two examples: the combined pancreas/kidney transplantation and the liver transplantation.

A hepatitis B epidemic was observed in an institution for retarded children. The mode of transmission and the epidemiology of this disease was studied. Approximately 50% of all children in this institution were infected by the enteral route. 7 children were hospitalized with an accute episode of hepatitis B and recovered completely. 9 children showed persisting hepatitis B surface antigen and DANE-particles in the serum without clinical signs of infection. 6 of those 9 children were diagnosed as trisomy 21. All of them excrete HBs Antigen in saliva, tears and urine. 80% of family members and teaching personnel involved with these children were infected, 23% had an acute episode of hepatitis B.

The physician's responsibility regarding the indication and induction of blood transfusion, the request for fresh whole blood and the decision for the degree of urgency are outlined. The risk of hemolytic transfusion reaction, one of many transfusion hazards, is calculated on the basis of the results obtained from a 7-year antibody screening program in blood recipients. Measures for the prevention of hemolytic transfusion-reactions are discussed.

There is no causal therapy for hepatitis-B. The most essential therapeutic measure taken for this illness is still prophylaxis, since hepatitis-B can be accompanied by very serious complications (e.g. chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary carcinoma of the liver).