Controlled clinical trial to assess the response of recent heroin abusers with chronic hepatitis C virus infection to treatment with interferon alpha-n2b

Hepatitis C Treatment of Opioid Dependants Receiving Maintenance Treatment: Results of a Norwegian Pilot Study

“…In the study by Schaefer et al [9] from Germany, four groups were treated and different dropout rates were observed: 13% in controls, 18% in patients with psychiatric disorders, 14% in patients with a history of opioid addiction on methadone maintenance therapy and 43% in former drug addicts without maintenance therapy. In a study by Neri et al [11] from Italy, a dropout rate of 36% in former heroin users compared to none in the control group was reported. In another study from Germany, Mauss et al [12] found a dropout rate of 22% compared with 4% in the control group within the first 8 weeks of therapy.…”

Injection Drug Use and the Hepatitis C Virus: Considerations for a Targeted Treatment Approach--The Case Study of Canada

“…126,127 An Italian study of newly detoxified heroin users (within 2-4 weeks of detoxification treatment) found an enhanced response to interferon alfa-n2b treatment (8 weeks of treatment) for the user group in comparison to controls without a history of drug addiction, although there were no data on sustained virological response. 128 An evaluation study of the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of interferon/ribavirin combination therapy in HCV-infected illicit opiate injector patients engaged in methadone maintenance treatment found that the end-of-treatment response rate was similar to that of patients without a history of illicit drug use. 129 Researchers in Munich conducted a study of treatment with interferon alfa plus ribavirin for psychiatric risk groups (n = 81), including psychiatric patients, methadone treatment clients, patients with former addictions, and a control group.…”

Randomized clinical trial to compare the effects of methadone and buprenorphine on the immune system in drug abusers

“…Opioids, especially heroin and morphine, can produce severe changes in the immune system and can possess a two-step action in the production of cytokines with phases of stimulation and inhibition (Kreek 1996;Pacifici et al 2000;Neri et al 2002). It was demonstrated in some studies that long-term methadone treatment can progressively restore the immune system and increase cytokine production (Kreek 1996;Pacifici et al 2000;Neri et al 2002).…”

“…It was demonstrated in some studies that long-term methadone treatment can progressively restore the immune system and increase cytokine production (Kreek 1996;Pacifici et al 2000;Neri et al 2002).…”