Liver disease in hepatitis B antigen [HBAg] positive blood donors

ABSTRACT

Clinical examination and liver function tests of 14 HBAg positive and 8 HBAg negative blood donors were done. A history of jaundice, contact with hepatitis and hepatosplenomegaly were more frequently observed in the antigen positive donors. Two of the 7 biopsies obtained from donor with persistant HB antigenaemia were normal while 5 showed minimal structural changes. The likely causes of differences in the hepatic response to HBAg and other factors in different ethnic groups is discussed. The incidence of liver disease in asymptomatic individuals with persistant antigenaemia is variable. Banke et al [1971] found no morphological abnormalities in 17 out of 18 biopsies, while changes varying from minor structural distortion to well established chronic aggressive hepatitis and cirrhosis were observed in 14 out of 23 liver biopsies done in HBAg carriers by Prince et al [1969]. Of the 18 biopsies reported by Bolin et al [1973] 5 had chronic aggressive, 8 chronic persistant and 1 acute hepatitis. Changes consistant with past hepatitis were observed in 1, nonspecific changes in 2 and only 1 biopsy was reported as normal. This study is the part of a survey conducted at the blood bank of this center to determine the incidence of HBAg carrier state and the differences in the pattern of liver disease in HBAg positive donors observed here as compared to those reported by others