Hepatitis C treatment outcomes among people who inject drugs accessing harm reduction settings in Kenya

• Published in: Journal of viral hepatitis 2022-08, Vol.29 (8), p.691-694
• Main Authors: Akiyama, Matthew J., Riback, Lindsey R., Nyakowa, Mercy, Musyoki, Helgar, Lizcano, John A., Muller, Abbe, Zhang, Chenshu, Walker, Josephine G., Stone, Jack, Vickerman, Peter, Cherutich, Peter, Kurth, Ann E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Africa; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; DAA; Drug Users; Harm Reduction; HCV; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - drug therapy; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Humans; Kenya - epidemiology; LMIC; PWID; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1352-0504; 1365-2893
• DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13662

Data are limited on HCV treatment outcomes among people who inject drugs (PWID) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and particularly sub-Saharan Africa. We provided ledipasvir/sofosbuvir under directly observed therapy (DOT) to 95 PWID accessing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and needle and syringe programs (NSP) in Nairobi and Coastal Kenya. Participants were predominantly male (n=81, 85.3%), mean age of 36.5 years (SD=±6.5); 38 (40%) were HIV-positive, 12 (12.6%) were cirrhotic, and 87 (91.6%) reported injecting drugs in the last 30 days. Genotypes were 53 (55.8%) 1a, 39 (41.1%) 4a, and 3 (3.2%) 1a/4a. Among 92 who initiated treatment, 85 (92.4%) completed treatment and 79 (85.9%) achieved SVR. In conclusion, HCV treatment among PWID in an LMIC setting is feasible. Further research is necessary to ascertain optimal models of HCV care given NSP and MAT access is variable in LMICs, and DOT may not be sustainable with limited resources.