Back to Search
Start Over
Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in severely opioid-dependent patients under heroin maintenance.
- Source :
-
Drug and alcohol dependence [Drug Alcohol Depend] 2010 Jun 01; Vol. 109 (1-3), pp. 248-51. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Feb 18. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Background: Severely opioid-dependent patients are at high risk of both acquiring and spreading the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is uncertain, however, whether these patients are possible candidates for HCV treatment. We therefore explored treatment retention and adherence as well as sustained viral response in co-morbid severely opioid-dependent subjects under heroin maintenance, who previously failed in conventional substitution treatment or were not in any drug treatment.<br />Methods: All patients in heroin maintenance in the German heroin trial, who received standard antiviral HCV therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, were included. Co-consumption of licit and illicit drugs was tolerated as long as it did not interfere with treatment.<br />Results: Twenty-six patients in heroin maintenance were treated for chronic HCV infection. Both the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist 90-R (average score 65.9) and the Opiate Treatment Index (average score 16.6) indicated relevant co-morbidity. Twenty-one patients (81%) were retained in treatment; the adherence rate was 92%. Eighteen patients (69%) achieved a sustained viral response, with a 100% response rate for genotype 2, 90% for genotype 3, and 42% for genotype 1.<br />Discussion: This is the first study that investigates the feasibility of antiviral HCV treatment in a well-defined sample of co-morbid severely opioid-dependent subjects in heroin maintenance treatment. Viral response rates are comparable to non-drug-user populations. Within a need-adapted treatment setting, HCV treatment may even be extended to difficult-to-treat opioid-dependent patients.<br /> (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Female
Genotype
Germany
Health Status
Hepacivirus genetics
Hepatitis C virology
Humans
Interferons therapeutic use
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Ribavirin therapeutic use
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Viral Load
Young Adult
Antiviral Agents therapeutic use
Hepatitis C complications
Hepatitis C drug therapy
Heroin therapeutic use
Heroin Dependence complications
Heroin Dependence therapy
Narcotics therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-0046
- Volume :
- 109
- Issue :
- 1-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Drug and alcohol dependence
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20167441
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.01.009