Experience with viral hepatitis C treatment among people who inject drugs and participate in a methadone substitution treatment program

Česká verzia

Authors: L. Krekulová ^1,2; L. Vavrinčíková ¹
Authors place of work: Remedis, s. r. o. Praha ¹; IV. Interní klinika, 1. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze ²
Published in the journal: Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 70, 2021, č. 1, s. 18-25
Category: Original Papers

Summary

Objectives: Long-term monitoring of the mutual effects of chronic viral hepatitis C (VHC) treatment and tailored addiction treatment. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an action plan to eliminate viral hepatitis C globally by 2030. People who inject drugs (PWID) are a key population that needs increased attention and care. Two decades before the announcement of the WHO plan for the global elimination of HCV (hepatitis C virus), the Remedis Medical Facility, where the study was conducted, established a “Comprehensive Care Program for patients with substance use disorders and addictive behaviour”.

Methods: We evaluated all patients who were in the methadone program as of 1 March 2020, regardless of OST duration, OST dosage, age or gender. Their epidemiological and demographic data obtained during a structured clinical interview and laboratory test results were analysed.

Results: Of 24 patients on methadone substitution therapy, 12 (50%) were anti-HCV negative before starting OST. None of them became newly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) during OST. The remaining 12 of the study patients were anti-HCV positive. Ten of them have already undergone successful treatment for viral hepatitis. Two patients were re-infected with HCV.

Conclusion: The presented work confirms the high efficacy of chronic VHC treatment among PWID in inducing suitable conditions. We consider combination of HCV infection treatment and targeted tailored addiction treatment as a starting point for achieving control over the HCV epidemic in the Czech Republic, with a possible positive impact on other blood-borne infections related to risky behaviour.

Keywords:

HCV (hepatitis C virus) – VHC (viral hepatitis C) – PWID (People Who Injected Drugs) – OST (opioid substitution treatment) – MTD (methadone) – Remedis, Prague

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