Viral Hepatitis in Connection with Hemo-Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

During 1964–1966 totally 80 cases of hepatitis more or less closely related to hemo-dialysis and kidney transplantation have occurred in different hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden. 62 of the cases occurred in personnel, mostly in laboratories, wards and dialysis units.

The length of the incubation period (60–100 days) as well as other epidemiological and clinical data indicate that the disease probably was serum hepatitis and it is believed to have been transmitted to the staff through inoculation of minute amounts of blood into scratches or wounds on the hands.