Characterization of former heroin addict patients with Hepatitis C virus antibodies in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic in israel.
OBJECTIVE
To compare characteristics, retention in treatment and cessation of drug abuse of 249 positive hepatitis C (HCV+) with 188 negative hepatitis C (HCV-) antibody patients.


METHODS
Data on Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV results, urine-proven drug use, and modified ASI of all patients admitted to the Adelson MMT clinic between June/1993-Dec/2002 were prospectively collected.


RESULTS
HCV+ patients manifested more ever injecting drug use, immigrants, positive HIV antibody, hepatitis B antigen, years of opiate addiction pre-MMT and benzodiazepines misuse after one year in MMT than HCV- patients, with similar 1-year retention and proportion of opiate use cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although characteristics of HCV+ and HCV- differed, they manifested similar outcomes: treatment retention and proportion of opiate use cessation.
Peles
Einat
E
Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment & Research, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. einatp@tasmc.health.gov.il
Rados
Vera
V
Adelson
Miriam
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D008691:Methadone