Treatment of intravenous drug users with chronic hepatitis C: treatment response, compliance and side effects

Although intravenous drug users (IVDUs) comprise the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C, most of them are excluded from treatment because of concerns about adherence to treatment and side effects. In this study we retrospectively evaluated safety, compliance to treatment and efficacy of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hippokratia 2007-10, Vol.11 (4), p.196-198
Main Authors: Gigi, E, Sinakos, E, Lalla, Th, Vrettou, E, Orphanou, E, Raptopoulou, M
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Although intravenous drug users (IVDUs) comprise the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C, most of them are excluded from treatment because of concerns about adherence to treatment and side effects. In this study we retrospectively evaluated safety, compliance to treatment and efficacy of treatment in IVDUs with HCV infection in 163 former IVDUs with chronic hepatitis C, who were not in methadone substitution and were attending our clinics the period 1997-2004. All subjects were HCVRNA (+), had ALT levels>x1.5 UNL and were treated for their HCV infection. Treatment consisted of three different regimens: IFN-alpha monotherapy (39.8%), IFN-alpha/ribavirin combination therapy (30.1%) and pegylated IFN-alpha/ribavirin combination therapy. Eighty seven over 163 patients (53.3%) discontinued treatment early due to drug abuse relapse (62%), side effects (32.1%, 10% psychiatric) and 5,7% for other reasons. Eighty precent of those who discontinued treatment had pre-treatment drug abstinence/= 9 months.
ISSN:1108-4189
1790-8019