The long term outcome of thirty eight post-transfusion hepatitis C

Thirty-eight cases of post-transfustion HCV hepatitis have been followed for 5-24 years. Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were found in 44.7 per cent and 13.1 per cent respectively. Cirrhosis was recognised by pathological evidence as early as one and a half years after transfusion and the clinical evidences of decompensated cirrhosis were noted in the fifth year post-transfusion onward. Hepatocellular carcinoma was first recognised in year ten and thereafter. Nine patients died of liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma during years 8-16 of the follow-up. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to screen out the HCV infected blood donors and to treat the HCV patients as early and as effectively as possible.