The impact of barriers to hepatitis C virus treatment in recovering heroin users maintained on methadone

Sylvestre, Diana L.; Litwin, Alain H.; Clements, Barry J.; Gourevitch, Marc N.

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2005.06.002

Cited by 96 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It has been shown [22, 23, 25,27,28,29,30] that in the setting of opiate maintenance treatment (OMT; with methadone, heroin, buprenorphine or other opiates), HCV treatment with interferon (IFN) and ribavirin is feasible and safe, at least in small, highly selected groups of patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Swiss Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Feasibility and Safety of Peginterferon-Alfa-2a and Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Official Opiate Substitution Programs

Fried¹,

Monnat

Seidenberg³

et al. 2008

Digestion

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Though patients in opiate substitution programs are commonly infected with HCV, due to safety and efficacy concerns, they are rarely treated with interferon and ribavirin. Methods: In a multicenter study, HCV-infected patients in opiate maintenance treatment programs received 180 μg pegylated interferon-alfa-2a once weekly, plus daily ribavirin for 24 weeks (genotypes 2, 3), or 48 weeks (genotypes 1, 4). Results: Of the 67 patients enrolled, 31 (46%) had HCV genotypes 1 or 4, and 36 (54%) had genotypes 2 or 3. Intent-to-treat analysis showed end-of-treatment virologic response in 75% of patients (81% of genotypes 2 or 3; 65% of genotypes 1 or 4), and a sustained virologic response in 61% of patients (72% of genotypes 2 or 3; 48% of genotypes 1 or 4). Fifteen patients (22%) did not complete the study, in 5 (8%) cases because of severe adverse events. Conclusions: Drug users with chronic HCV infection, regularly attending an opiate maintenance program in which close collaboration between hepatologists/internists and addiction specialists is assured, can be treated effectively and safely with pegylated interferon-alfa-2a and ribavirin. Treatment results are very similar to those in other patient groups, and thus therapy should also be considered for this population.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Swiss Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Feasibility and Safety of Peginterferon-Alfa-2a and Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Official Opiate Substitution Programs

Fried¹,

Monnat

Seidenberg³

et al. 2008

Digestion

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although past treatment options have been relatively ineffective, new treatment advances have substantially improved outcomes (Fried et al, 2002;Manns et al, 2001). A growing number of studies now provide evidence for the efficacy of interferon-based therapy for HCV-infected patients with active substance abuse disorders (Backmund, Meyer, Von Zielonka, & Eichenlaub, 2001;Cournot et al, 2004;Dalgard et al, 2002;Sylvestre, Litwin, Clements, & Gourevitch, 2005;Van Thiel, Anantharaju, & Creech, 2003). However, despite the high prevalence of HCV infection among IDUs, few have been treated with interferon-based antiviral therapy Hagan et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C management by addiction medicine physicians: Results from a national survey

Litwin

Kunins

Berg

et al. 2007

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Drug users are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV), yet they face barriers to health care that place them at risk for levels of HCV-related care that are lower than those of nondrug users. Substance abuse treatment physicians may treat more HCV-infected persons than other generalist physicians, yet little is known about how such physicians facilitate HCV-related care. We conducted a nationwide survey of American Society of Addiction Medicine physicians (n = 320) to determine substance abuse physicians' HCV-related management practices and to describe factors associated with these practices. We found that substance abuse treatment physicians promote several elements of HCV-related care, including screening for HCV antibodies, recommending vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, and referring patients to subspecialists for HCV treatment. Substance abuse physicians who also provide primary medical or HIV-related care were most likely to facilitate HCVrelated care. A significant minority of physicians were either providing HCV antiviral treatment or willing to provide HCV antiviral treatment.

show abstract

“…A growing number of studies [42][43][44][45][46][47][48] have found that hepatitis treatment regimens are safe and effective for patients in care and receiving methadone treatment, hepatitis pharmacotherapy is not altered by methadone, patients that discontinue hepatitis C therapy while receiving methadone usually do so early in the time course of hepatitis C treatment, and that stable housing is associated with the initiation of hepatitis treatment. Thus, patients receiving methadone treatment should not be withdrawn from methadone prior to hepatitis C treatment, since continued methadone maintenance can be helpful in enhancing quality of life through stabilization during hepatitis C treatment.…”

Section: Open Access Ijcmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing Service Integration in Opioid Treatment Progams for the Care and Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection

Kresina¹,

Lubran²,

Clark³

et al. 2014

IJCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is estimated that approximately 200 million people globally are infected with the hepatitis C virus and that roughly half of these people live in Asia. Without treatment, it is estimated that roughly twenty percent of those infected with hepatitis C virus progress to chronic liver disease, then subsequently, end-stage liver disease. Thus, access to hepatitis C testing and subsequent care and treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection are essential to address the global burden of disease. In the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 60% of new cases of hepatitis infection are due to injection drug use. Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP's) dispense methadone and buprenorphine under specific federal regulations to injection drug users diagnosed with opioid dependence. OTPs are developing comprehensive care and treatment model programs that integrate general medical and infectious disease-related medical care with substance abuse and mental health services. Integrating hepatitis care services and treatment in the substance abuse treatment settings foster access to care for patients with hepatitis C infection, many who otherwise would not receive needed care and treatment. This may serve as a national model for highly cost-efficient healthcare that has a measurable outcome of improved public health with reduced hepatitis C prevalence.

show abstract

The impact of barriers to hepatitis C virus treatment in recovering heroin users maintained on methadone

Cited by 96 publications

References 24 publications

Swiss Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Feasibility and Safety of Peginterferon-Alfa-2a and Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Official Opiate Substitution Programs

Swiss Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Feasibility and Safety of Peginterferon-Alfa-2a and Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Official Opiate Substitution Programs

Hepatitis C management by addiction medicine physicians: Results from a national survey

Advancing Service Integration in Opioid Treatment Progams for the Care and Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About