[Hepatitis A, B, CMV, EBV and HIV infections in premature and term newborn infants following polytransfusion].

306 children who received polytransfusion or exchange transfusion between 1979 and 1983 and 104 age-matched controls were re-examined at a median age of 2.9 years for hepatitis A and B, CMV, EBV, and HIV infections. This retrospective study revealed no differences between transfused children and controls. HBsAg and anti-HIV were not detected. Two children were suspected of having hepatitis C. In both groups the incidence of positive CMV and EBV serologies was significantly increased in children from Mediterranean countries. Red cell concentrates were less frequently associated with CMV infection. These results confirm the exclusive recruitment of volunteer donors from a "healthy", mainly rural population and support the preferred use of red cell concentrates in paediatric patients.