DIGESTIVE ENDO5COPY AND HBV INFECTION (THE 1ST REPORT) THE CLEANING AND DISINFECTION COMMETTEE FOR ENDOSCOPE OF THE JAPANESE GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ENDOSCOPY SOCIETY

Abstract

A prospective study on a causal relationship between digestive endoscopy and HBV infection was investigated at 5 institutions of Japan from October 1977 to April 1979 by the cleaning and disinf ection committee for the endoscope of the Japanese Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Society. HBV negative patients before endoscopy were 189 of 273 patients completely followed up for 6 months. One HBsAg positive and 15 anti-HBs positive patients were found among the 189 patients. The rate of HBV infection was 8.5 percent. In a case with HBsAg positive, HBsAg became positive four months after endoscopy and turned to be negative two months later. However, anti-HBs continued to be negative with normal hepatic function and no symptoms of hepatitis for 3 years after then. A further investigation should be urged to confirm the unexpectedly high rate of HBV infection suggested in this report.