post-transfusion hepatitis

Hepatitis occurring in blood recipients caused by blood transfusion or blood products, or the presence of positive serological markers without clinical symptoms or signs of hepatitis, is called post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH). Hepatitis A and E are mainly transmitted through the digestive tract and do not progress to chronic hepatitis or chronic virus carrier states, so they generally do not cause post-transfusion hepatitis. However, individual recipients who receive blood from donors in the incubation period may also develop post-transfusion hepatitis A or E. Hepatitis B, C, D, and G are mainly transmitted through blood and can cause chronic hepatitis or chronic hepatitis virus carrier states. Among them, hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that exists in hosts infected with HBV; HDV can only cause hepatitis with the assistance of hepatitis B virus (HBV). HDV can coinfect with HBV or superinfect on the basis of existing infection, thereby aggravating hepatitis B or promoting fulminant hepatitis. Screening of blood donors generally does not consider hepatitis A, E, or D, but focuses on hepatitis B, C, and G, which are easily transmitted through blood. Currently, more than 90% of post-transfusion hepatitis in China is hepatitis C. Several years ago, post-transfusion hepatitis C was a serious problem in clinical transfusion, but in recent years, due to advances in transfusion management, it has been greatly alleviated. The HCV contamination rate of blood products has also been greatly reduced.