Abstract
Non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis (NANB-PTH) occurred in 26 out of 238 patients with cardiac surgery. Probability curve of NANB-PTH occurrence reached 24.6% at 8th week after blood transfusion, and leveled off thereafter. Mean number of blood donors was 12.8, in which there was no difference between adults (older than the age of 16) and children (younger than the age of 15). 23 out of 114 (32.0%) adults developed PTH but only 3 out of 124 (8.2%) children did, showing significant difference due to the Cox's life table method (p<0.004). This low incidence of PTH in the children possibly shows that they have developed into asymptomatic carrier states after viral infection responsible for NANB-PTH. Female patients had a tendency to develop PTH less than male ones (p<0.1).
No definite evidence was obtained that lowering cut-off levels of donor's GPT (ALT) from 35 KU at present to below 20 KU could decrease NANB-PTH.
