title: A model for treating HCV hepatitis in patients receiving methadone maintenance therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with substance abuse, treatment of addicts is problematic. We report the results of a pilot scheme for treatment of HCV - infected substance abusers in a methadone maintenance center (MMC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The treatment program was carried out at a single MMC. Patients were not using illicit drugs or alcohol and received regular treatment with methadone. The program consisted of 5 stages: 1. An explanatory lecture concerning HCV (50/114 attended). 2. 25 of the 50 presented for examination including HCV RNA, genotype and viral load. 3. HCV treatment with pegylated alfa-interferon-1b and ribavarin. 4. The MMC physician and staff aided the clients' medical compliance. 5. A hepatologist (SM) volunteered his services on the basis of one 3 hourly session every 4-6 weeks, in addition to open access telephone consultation with the MMC staff physician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  50 of 114 HCV seropositive clients attended the initial meeting , 25 (50%) were candidates for treatment, of whom 20 were treated. 10 had genotype 3 infection, 9 genotype 1 and 1 genotype 2. The sustained virological response (SVR) on an intention-to-treat basis was 8/20 (40%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a model for the successful treatment of chronic HCV hepatitis in patients receiving methadone.
authors.affiliation: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malnick
authors.affiliation: Methadone Treatment Center, Ashdod, Israel.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sheidvasser
authors.affiliation: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basevitz
authors.affiliation: Ex-director of Jerusalem and Ashdod MMT and adjunct Lecturer in School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ariel University Center of Samaria, Israel.
authors.forename: Shabtai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009294:Narcotics; D012254:Ribavirin; D008691:Methadone