Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Injecting Drug Users: 5 Years' Follow-Up

[Rockerforlife]

Abstract

Aim of the Study: To assess the long-term hepatitis C (HCV) treatment outcome in former injecting drug users (IDUs). Materials and Methods: A long-term follow-up of 27 former IDUs who had been successfully treated for chronic hepatitis C was performed. These patients represented all IDUs who had obtained a sustained virological response in a Norwegian HCV treatment trial. The patients had been treated with interferon- alone or in combination with ribavirin. At 5 years' follow-up the 27 IDUs were retested for HCV RNA and risk behaviour for HCV transmission after treatment was assessed. In the control group all 18 non-IDUs who had obtained a sustained virological response in the same treatment trial were included. Results: At follow-up 13-82 months (median 64) after the end of treatment only one case of probable reinfection was seen among the 27 IUDs. No reoccurrence of HCV was observed in the control group. The IDU who was HCV RNA positive at follow-up had continued injecting drugs and reported frequent needle sharing. At follow-up HCV of genotype 1a was detected in contrast to genotype 1b before treatment indicating that this patient was reinfected with HCV. A return to injecting drug use occurred in 9 (33%) of 27 IDUs. Conclusion: The long-term outcome of HCV treatment in former IDUs was excellent. Despite frequent reinitiation of drug injection all but 1 remained HCV RNA negative.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel




http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowPDF&ProduktNr=224233&Ausgabe=227657&ArtikelNr=49487

[Rockerforlife]

GOOGLE THE BORDER

Ingenious refugee claimants fleeing here from the U.S. are using Google Earth software and global positioning devices to sneak into the country now that their claims are being refused at border crossings, immigration workers say



http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/national/2009/08/06/10374681-sun.html

[Marcia2202]

I think the problem is that active users might not be able to stick to the schedule of taking the drugs. As we know we have to be more or less 100% compliant.

[Rockerforlife]

Its an oxymoron,they say they shun from treating IDU`s,but these are actual people who need the TX the most and the biggest % who have HCV.I can see refusing TX if you are a current user tho.

[alagirl]

with treatment I mean.

[alagirl]

I have kind of an unusual perspective on this.  I have always advocated tx for IDU's because my view is that a) the smaller the pool of IDU with the disease, the more the spread will be curbed among idu and b) IDU can spread disease into the non-IDU community if they aren't treated, as happened in my case, and as happened recently with the surgi tech who put so many people at risk.  So I'm glad to see that there is beginning to be more dialog about tx'ing this section of the pop.  Prison would be a good place to start I think.

[GoofyDad]

"you have to be real careful,like i said ,the drugs themselves can be contaminated by the dealers who chop it up,most times they use it themselves while they cut it up and have blood all over the tables "

A little tea tree oil oughta do the trick...

[Rockerforlife]

Easy Rider (1969)


http://stagevu.com/video/pybmssrxurax

Love the flick

[Rockerforlife]

I wonder if they spray the coco plants in Boliva

[FlGuy]

Organic smack from reputable dealers only?

[Rockerforlife]

This film is listed in the best 1000 films of all time,its pretty funny....

Charlie Chaplin


http://stagevu.com/video/kkozcmweajhn

[Rockerforlife]

you have to be real careful,like i said ,the drugs themselves can be contaminated by the dealers who chop it up,most times they use it themselves while they cut it up and have blood all over the tables

[nygirl7]

I remember all the things about infection my husband ever told me. ALL wrong. And he thought there was one type of hepC so he did it with anybody and didn't think a thing. Which if I didn't get it in the 80s figures why I got a double dose.

At least those 8 learned the hard way but they learned.

[FlGuy]

You've got to hand to those 8 who went back to shooting stuff and didn't get re-infected, at least they learned something about transmission.  The meds were wasted on Number Nine.

[nygirl7]

IDU who was HCV RNA positive at follow-up had continued injecting drugs and reported frequent needle sharing

I guess with age people get smarter and realize how damn cheap needles really are - I mean seriously drug addiction is one thing but hep is another.  If I were to return to it ever in my life you'd better believe I would NOT be using anything that didn't come directly out of the package opened by ME!