The occurrence of hepatitis-associated antigen in a group of Canadian patients with leukemia.

Serial blood samples from 37 Nova Scotian patients with different forms of leukemia and other malignant conditions of bone marrow and lymphoid tissue were tested for the hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA). Ten patients were found to be positive for HAA. Not only is there an increased incidence of HAA in this population group, but when present the antigen is carried for a longer period than in the normal individual. The increased incidence was completely unrelated to the blood transfusion histories of the patients.