Role of immune serum globulin in post transfusion virus B infection

Fifty four blood recipients were administered prophylactic immune serum globulin (31) or hepatitis B immune globulin (23) and followed up for six months. None of the patients developed either acute hepatitis B or HBsAg carrier state. However, 7 (14%) had anicteric self limiting non-B post-transfusion hepatitis. Twenty (40%) of the blood recipients developed anti-HBs during the follow up period suggesting either HBV exposure by subdetectable levels of HBsAg present either in blood or immunoglobulin preparation or due to passive transfer by administration of immunoglobulins.