Post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis in Finland: a prospective study.

To study the frequency of post-transfusion non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis in Finland, we have followed prospectively 65 patients after open-heart surgery. The total number of transfused blood units was 652. Blood samples were obtained from the patients during the first 6 months after the operation and were studied for transaminase levels. The NANB diagnosis was based on exclusion of viral hepatitis of known etiology by serological tests for hepatitis A, B, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections. We found three cases of post-transfusion NANB, all of which were subclinical and unicteric. The frequency of NANB hepatitis was 4.6%, and the proportion of infective blood units was 0.5%.