[Epidemiology of hepatitis in Swiss hemophiliacs]

A total of 108 Swiss haemophiliacs (89 haemophilia A and 19 haemophilia B patients) were investigated for the presence of serological hepatitis B virusmarkers and for transaminase abnormalities; the patients were also evaluated regarding hepatitis history. 22% of the patients were found to have a history of acute clinical hepatitis. 82% showed signs of hepatitis B virus (or hepatitis Bs-antigen) exposure: 6% were shown to be hepatitis Bs-antigen carriers, hepatitis B2-antibodies were found in 71% and hepatitis Bc-antibodies in 72% of the patients. 39% of the haemophiliacs showed elevated transaminase activities; it must be assumed that a proportion of the patients of this group have asymptomatic chronic liver disease.