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[Importance of the pre-donation epidemiological survey to detect donors with a risk of transmitting HCV]
1Servicio Regional de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza.
Purpose:
To determine if the investigation of previous clinical features through an inquiry could be useful to predict HCV infection in blood donors as assessed by recombinant immunoblot assay.
Material And Methods:
From january 1990 to august 1991, 79 HCV seropositive blood donors by recombinant immunoblot assays (58 RIBA 1 and 21 RIBA II) were selected to be inquired and to perform a clinical examination. The inquiry included the following parameters: age, sex, social environment, history of liver disease, presence or absence for parenteral risk factors (surgery, blood transfusion, odontological procedures, acupuncture, tattoos, etc...).
Results:
1) General data: mean age, 43 years (range 20-65); male/female 54/25 (ratio 2.16); urban/rural environment 50/29 (ratio 1.72); new/regular blood donors 17/62 (ratio 0.27). 2) Inquiry results: In seven cases (8.9%) previous symptoms were detected. Hepatic stigmata were present in 12 donors (15.2%). A 67.0 showed previous surgical procedures; 48.1% had odontological history; 24.0% were recipients for blood transfusion; parenteral treatment using nondisposable material were detected in 19 cases (24.0%); acupuncture in 4 donors (5.0%); tattoos in only one case. Social habits were: alcoholic consumption in 44.3% and regular medicine ingestion in 19.0%; a 81.0% had a unique partner and a 8.9% preferred multiple heterosexual contacts. A 29.1% inhabit in unfamiliar house and the remaining 70.9% lived in apartments buildings; the mean of family members was 3.7 persons (range 2-8).
Remarks:
a) It is pointed out the scarce and physical expression of the HCV infection. So in many aspects the inquiry is useless and time consuming. b) Nevertheless, we have detected some parenteral risk factors in seropositive cases. Regarding this particular aspect the inquiry is useful. Taken into account the previous we suggest to add an item with the parenteral risk factors to the ordinary self-answering inquire, addressed to all blood donors in each donation.