A golden opportunity: the treatment of hepatitis C in HIV-infected inmates.
Encouraging results have been demonstrated in large clinical trials in HIV-infected patients taking pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, only a minority of patients are being treated in the community. Medical providers cite chaotic lifestyles, unstable living situations, and ongoing substance abuse as barriers to these complicated therapies. The stable environment of the correctional system affords a path for intensive education, screening, and treatment of these hard-to-reach patients. Since HIV/HCV coinfected patients are at risk for cirrhosis, end-stage live disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma, incarceration should be viewed as a golden opportunity for important medical interventions.
McGovern
Barbara
B
Tufts University School of Medicine, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 , USA. bmcgovern@tufts-nemc.org
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons