The frequency of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been studied in 149 polytransfused thalassaemic patients and in healthy controls. Evidence for EBV infection was based on the detection of antibodies to viral capsid antigen (anti-VC A) and for HBV infection on the detection of either hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). The frequency of anti-VCA was not significantly higher in the patients (16.4%) compared to the controls (69.8%) whereas HBV infection was more frequently observed in the patients (91.3%) than in the controls (17.3%). There was also no evidence of repeated infection or recent infection with EBV in the polytransfused patients. These data suggest that transfusion of stored blood does not represent a significant factor of spread for EBV.

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