title: Barriers to antiviral treatment in hepatitis C infected intravenous drug users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays intravenous drug use is the main source of hepatitis C transmission, but only a small proportion of those who acquired infection via intravenous drug use receive antiviral treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to assess the barriers of access to antiviral treatment of infected intravenous drug users.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was carried out in a hepatology outpatient clinic including all hepatitis C infected intravenous drug users in a 3-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only one-third of the infected former intravenous drug users received antiviral treatment. The main barrier to antiviral treatment was the lack of abstinence. Former intravenous drug users in prison or in long-term drug rehabilitation institutes were more likely to enter antiviral treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low proportion of patients entering antiviral treatment calls the attention to further improving the pretreatment management of this patient population. Special attention should be paid to the maintenance of abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatric Service, Szent István and Szent László Hospitals, Budapest, Hungary. gazdag@lamb.hu
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazdag
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D055118:Medication Adherence; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies