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.
University Hospital, Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. harder@medizin.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
J
J
Harder
E
E
Walter
B
B
Riecken
C
C
Ihling
T M
TM
Bauer
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