title: Molecular and contextual markers of hepatitis C virus and drug abuse.
abstract: The spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection involves a complex interplay of social risks, and molecular factors of both virus and host. Injection drug abuse is the most powerful risk factor for HCV infection, followed by sexual transmission and additional non-injection drug abuse factors such as co-infection with other viruses and barriers to treatment. It is clearly important to understand the wider context in which the factors related to HCV infection occur. This understanding is required for a comprehensive approach leading to the successful prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HCV. An additional consideration is that current treatments and advanced molecular methods are generally unavailable to socially disadvantaged patients. Thus, the recognition of behavioral/social, viral, and host factors as components of an integrated approach to HCV is important to help this vulnerable group. Equally important, this approach is key to the development of personalized patient treatment - a significant goal in global healthcare. In this review, we discuss recent findings concerning the impact of drug abuse, epidemiology, social behavior, virology, immunopathology, and genetics on HCV infection and the course of disease.
authors: Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA. pshapshak@gmail.com
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Shapshak
authors: Charurut
authors: C
authors: Somboonwit
authors: Lydia N
authors: LN
authors: Drumright
authors: Simon D W
authors: SD
authors: Frost
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Commins
authors: Timothy L
authors: TL
authors: Tellinghuisen
authors: William K
authors: WK
authors: Scott
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Duncan
authors: Clyde
authors: C
authors: McCoy
authors: J Bryan
authors: JB
authors: Page
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Giunta
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Fernandez
authors: Elyse
authors: E
authors: Singer
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Levine
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Minagar
authors: Oluwadayo
authors: O
authors: Oluwadara
authors: Taiwo
authors: T
authors: Kotila
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Chiappelli
authors: John T
authors: JT
authors: Sinnott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers