Factors influencing a low rate of hepatitis C viral RNA clearance in heroin users from Southern China.
OBJECTIVE
To study the virological and host factors influencing hepatitis C infection outcomes in heroin users in southern China.


METHODS
HCV RNA and associated factors were analyzed among 347 heroin users from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China who were hepatitis C virus (HCV) EIA positive for two or more consecutive visits.


RESULTS
Using the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV TEST, a remarkably low HCV RNA negative rate of 8.6% was detected. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, HCV RNA clearance was significantly associated with the presence of HBsAg (OR = 8.436, P < 0.0001), the lack of HIV-1 infection (OR = 0.256, P = 0.038) and age younger than 25 (OR = 0.400, P = 0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests HCV infection among Chinese heroin users results in high levels of viral persistence even amidst factors previously found to enhance viral clearance. Prospective studies of a possible genetic component within the Chinese population and the pathogenicity of non-genotype 1 HCV infections are needed.
Garten
Rebecca-J
RJ
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Room E5148, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States.
Lai
Sheng-Han
SH
Zhang
Jin-Bing
JB
Liu
Wei
W
Chen
Jie
J
Yu
Xiao-Fang
XF
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral