Acute hepatitis C virus infection in young adult injection drug users: a prospective study of incident infection, resolution, and reinfection.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, clearance, and reinfection are best studied in injection drug users (IDUs), who have the highest incidence of HCV and are likely to represent most infections.


METHODS
A prospective cohort of HCV-negative young IDUs was followed up from January 2000 to September 2007, to identify acute and incident HCV and prospectively study infection outcomes.


RESULTS
Among 1,191 young IDUs screened, 731 (61.4%) were HCV negative, and 520 (71.1%) of the 731 were enrolled into follow-up. Cumulative HCV incidence was 26.7/100 person-years of observation (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.5-31.6). Of 135 acute/incident HCV infections, 95 (70.4%) were followed; 20 (21.1%) of the 95 infections cleared. Women had a significantly higher incidence of viral clearance than did men (age-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.91 [95% CI, 1.68-5.03]) and also showed a faster rate of early HCV viremia decline (P < .01). The estimated reinfection rate was 24.6/100 person-years of observation (95% CI, 11.7-51.6). Among 7 individuals, multiple episodes of HCV reinfection and reclearance were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In this large sample of young IDUs, females show demonstrative differences in their rates of viral clearance and kinetics of early viral decline. Recurring reinfection and reclearance suggest possible protection against persistent infection. These results should inform HCV clinical care and vaccine development.
Page
Kimberly
K
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale St, Ste 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. kpage@psg.ucsf.edu
Hahn
Judith A
JA
Evans
Jennifer
J
Shiboski
Stephen
S
Lum
Paula
P
Delwart
Eric
E
Tobler
Leslie
L
Andrews
William
W
Avanesyan
Lia
L
Cooper
Stewart
S
Busch
Michael P
MP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D013995:Time; D014766:Viremia; D055815:Young Adult
D012367:RNA, Viral