title: Risk factors and medical follow-up of drug users tested for hepatitis C--can the risk of transmission be reduced?
abstract: Of 1728 patients attending a regional drug and alcohol clinic, 202 were considered at risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Forty-nine per cent (99/202) agreed to testing-67% (67) were HCV antibody positive. Age and a history of needle sharing was the significant factor associated with positive HCV status. Patients on methadone maintenance medication were more-likely to have been HCV positive, but significantly (p = 0.005) less likely to have shared needles in the previous year. Seventy-three per cent (49/67) attended for follow-up at a "liver clinic". Fifty per cent were infected with genotype 1a. Eighteen patients were biopsied and all were abnormal, ranging from mild hepatitis to severe fibrotic hepatitis. Attendance for medical follow-up was poor, which emphasizes the importance of preventative measures such as methadone maintenance programmes for reducing the spread of HCV.
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Unit, Plummer Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6UR, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Serfaty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brind
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gilvarry
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bassendine