title: Recommendations for the management of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs.
abstract: In the developed world, the majority of new and existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections occur among people who inject drugs (PWID). The burden of HCV-related liver disease in this group is increasing, but treatment uptake among PWID remains low. Among PWID, there are a number of barriers to care that should be considered and systematically addressed, but these barriers should not exclude PWID from HCV treatment. Furthermore, it has been clearly demonstrated that HCV treatment is safe and effective across a broad range of multidisciplinary healthcare settings. Given the burden of HCV-related disease among PWID, strategies to enhance HCV assessment and treatment in this group are urgently needed. These recommendations demonstrate that treatment among PWID is feasible and provides a framework for HCV assessment, management, and treatment. Further research is needed to evaluate strategies to enhance assessment, adherence, and SVR among PWID, particularly as new treatments for HCV infection become available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium. rt.robaeys@zol.be
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robaeys
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grebely
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mauss
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruggmann
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moussalli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Gottardi
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kautz
authors.forename: Heino
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stöver
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Backmund
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dalgard
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dore
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: HCV; HIV; drug users; guidelines; injecting; injection