[Hepatologic dispensaire for blood donors]

By means of hepatological examinations of 119 blood donors who became conspicuous by liver screenings in 57 cases we could prove an adipose degeneration without, in 16 cases a fatty degeneration of the liver without, in 9 cases an adipose degeneration with and in 15 cases a fatty degeneration of the liver with mesenchymal reaction. Only 9 blood donors had normal liver findings. 90% of the punctured blood donors had an overweight up to a maximum of 35 kg in comparison to the ideal weight. 30% of the punctured patients admitted a clearly increased daily consumption of alcoholic beverages. By means of repeated punctures on 24 blood donors after 8 to 32 months after an adequate consultation in three cases a normalisation and in eight cases an improvement of the liver findings could be proved. In 13 cases the findings remained unchanged, also the anamnestic and clinical findings corresponded to this. In 2 blood donors by means of a threefold liver puncture in the observation period of 48 months also a clear retrogression of the liver findings was proved. With this was also connected the reduction of overweight and the avoiding of alcohol. Thus our investigations confirmed that overweight and abuse of alcohol are essential factors for the development of a fatty degeneration of the liver. Of an infectious hepatitis reported in the anamnesis in 10 blood donors histologically in no case residues were established. Thus the liver dispensary is of great importance for the care of blood donors who become conspicuous by screening tests. On the one hand the importance is referred to the blood donor himself, on the other hand to the group of donors. Blood donors taken out of the group could again be included in the special group, when after the exclusion of known noxae the retrogression of unspecific liver changes took place.