Hepatitis C virus infection in intravenous drug users.
Intravenous drug use (IVDU) remains a major means of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. In this study, 101 drug users were studied prospectively after cessation of IVDU. Of these, 75.8% were anti-HCV positive, and 71.4% had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase. These levels decreased significantly within 1 month of IVDU cessation (p 0.02). Liver biopsies showed minimal or mild fibrosis in 32 (71%) of 45 subjects, and severe fibrosis in two (4.4%) subjects. Anti-HCV-positive intravenous drug users in this study presented with mild liver disease and variable stages of disease progression. Biochemical disease activity might be affected by IVDU.
Harder
J
J
University Hospital, Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. harder@medizin.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Walter
E
E
Riecken
B
B
Ihling
C
C
Bauer
T M
TM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies