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Transmission of occult hepatitis B virus by transfusion to adult and pediatric recipients in Taiwan.
- Source :
-
Journal of hepatology [J Hepatol] 2006 Jan; Vol. 44 (1), pp. 39-46. Date of Electronic Publication: 2005 Jul 12. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Background/aims: The infectivity of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV), defined as HBsAg-negative but HBV DNA-positive, after transfusion has been low but not negligible. To address this, we investigated the incidence of post-transfusion HBV infection after receiving screened blood units in Taiwan.<br />Methods: Consecutive HBV-naïve (anti-HBc-negative) recipients with normal ALT were followed for HBV DNA and serologic markers before and after transfusion. Among 4448 blood recipients, 467 (10.5%) were anti-HBc-negative. Post-transfusion 6-month follow-up was completed for 327. We identified 5 (1.5%) who developed hepatitis B viremia 1 week after transfusion. Three were children who later seroconverted to anti-HBc but with normal ALT indicating subclinical acute infection, despite all had anti-HBs from previous vaccination. One had transient transfusion-transmitted HBV without seroconversion to anti-HBc and one possibly had occult HBV infection. Our findings suggested the possibility that occult HBV infection was transmissible by transfusion. The incidence of post-transfusion acute HBV infection was 0.9% (100 per million units) in naïve recipients in Taiwan, a figure 7 approximately 40-fold higher than in developed countries. Moreover, some vaccinated children with anti-HBs were still susceptible.<br />Conclusions: Therefore, despite active immunization, sensitive screening assays for occult HBV infection such as nucleic acid amplification test could be considered in endemic areas.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
DNA, Viral analysis
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hepatitis B epidemiology
Hepatitis B virology
Hepatitis B Antibodies analysis
Hepatitis B e Antigens analysis
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Taiwan epidemiology
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Hepatitis B transmission
Hepatitis B virus genetics
Hepatitis B virus immunology
Transfusion Reaction
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0168-8278
- Volume :
- 44
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of hepatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16168517
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2005.06.016