HEPATITIS AND EPIDEMIC HEPATITIS ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN (E.H.A.A.) IN A HÆMODIALYSIS UNIT WITH OBSERVATIONS ON HÆMOGLOBIN LEVELS.

SUMMARY An outbreak of infectious hepatitis in a hæmodialysis unit is described. From November 1968 to December 1970, at least 108 patients and staff were at risk. Of the 68 patients at risk, 28 developed hepatitis. Only 1 member of the staff developed hepatitis. No deaths attributable to hepatitis occurred. E.H.A.A. (epidemic hepatitis associated antigen) was detected in 2 patients with hepatitis. H.A.A. (Australia antigen) was not detected in any patient with hepatitis. In one dialysis patient who had no clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatitis, H.A.A. (Australia antigen) was detected on one occasion only in October 1970. Nine patients developed a significant rise in hæmoglobin level during hepatitis. The explanation for this is unknown. This outbreak of hepatitis has not prevented the expansion of the home dialysis and transplantation programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]