Serum hepatitis from transfusions of blood. Epidemiologic study.

Factors influencing the frequency of occurrence of serum hepatitis from blood transfusions were sought in a study of a randomized sample of 21.4% of 11,627 patients who had received transfusions. The number of transfusions received by a given patient was a more important factor than age, blood group, race, or sex. Women received more transfusions than did men. The difference was accounted for by the frequency of transfusions given for mastectomy, gynecologic operations, and puerperal hemorrhage. Among patients who did develop hepatitis, the mortality rate was 0 for age-groups less than 35 years old and 20% for age-groups more than 40 years old. In one-half of the cases, jaundice appeared between the 30th and 60th day after transfusion.