Eligibility for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection among young injection drug users in 3 US cities.
Among 404 injection drug users aged 18-35 who tested positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, 96% had conditions that are potentially unwarranted contraindications for HCV treatment (e.g., problem drinking, moderate-to-severe depression, and recent drug injection). Restrictive eligibility criteria may deny treatment to a large proportion of patients who could benefit from it.
Hagan
Holly
H
National Development and Research Institutes, Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, 10010, USA. hagan@ndri.org
Latka
Mary H
MH
Campbell
Jennifer V
JV
Golub
Elizabeth T
ET
Garfein
Richard S
RS
Thomas
David A
DA
Kapadia
Farzana
F
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014481:United States
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral