[Early decline in an epidemic: evolution of the prevalences of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and aminotransferases in intravenous drug abusers in Strasbourg between 1980 and 1990].
OBJECTIVE
In order to study the prevalence of hepatitis B and C as well as HIV virus and disruptive factors of aminotransferase enzyme among intravenous drug users.


METHODS
We conducted retrospective study of 169 patients who were hospitalised in a clinic where they were weaned from drug use between 1980 and 1990.


RESULTS
The prevalence of HIV is 13.2%, and that of hepatitis B is 67.5%. When comparing the years 1980-1987 and 1987-1990, we noticed that the prevalence of HIV drops from 25.9% to 7.8% (p = 0.006), and that of hepatitis B from 75.9% to 60% (p = 0.027). Since November 1989, we were able to detect hepatitis C virus on a regular basis, and it showed a prevalence of 67.4%. The prevalence of aminotransferase enzyme disorders is 52.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
We compare these results with those of other material on the same subject and we discuss various ideas to explain the unexpected decrease of HIV prevalence.
Will
T
T
Division d'abus de substances, Villa les Crêts, Genève. will-thomas@diogenes.hcuge.ch
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood*; D014504:Urban Health
D015415:Biomarkers; D000637:Transaminases
Décroissance précoce d'une épidémie: évolution des prévalences du VIH, VHB, VHC et des aminotransférases chez les toxicomanes intraveineux à Strasbourg entre 1980 et 1990.