Prevalence and distribution of hepatitis C subtypes in patients with opioid dependence

Autor(en)

Gabriele Fischer, Reinhold Jagsch, Christian Müller, Sabine Kasper

Abstrakt

Aim and Setting: The drug addiction out-patient clinic at the University Hospital for Psychiatry in Vienna performed a study to identify the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in a group of opiate-dependent patients, to detect the distribution of HCV subtypes and to calculate the comorbidity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Design and Participants: We consecutively investigated unselected patients (n = 173) during an observation period of 2 months with the diagnosis of opioid dependence (DSM-IV: 304.0) and polysubstance dependence (DSM-IV: 304.9). Measurements: Blood was investigated focusing on liver enzymes and on viral status including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, followed by subtyping of the virus. Findings: In 80.3% hepatitis C antibodies were found, 66.5% were HCV RNA (PCR) positive. 3a was the most frequent subtype (35.6%), followed by 1a (28.8%) and 1b (22.0%). Four patients had both subtypes 1a and 1b (6.8%), 3 were 2b positive (5.1%) and 1 patient had subtypes 2a/2c (1.7%). No significant difference in aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) concerning the different subtypes (AST: p = 0.290; ALT: p = 0.260) could be calculated; 11.6% showed co-infection with HIV, 2 patients had a chronic infection with hepatitis B. Conclusions: The rate of HCV infection in substance-dependent patients at our drug addiction out-patient clinic is extremely high. The distribution of subtypes showed a relatively homogeneous distribution of the types 1a, 1b and 3a. The recommended therapy with a-interferon should be initiated in drug-dependent patients under considerations of an enrollment in oral maintenance with synthetic opioids. Copyright Π2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Organisation(en)

Externe Organisation(en)

Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien (AKH)

Journal

European Addiction Research

Band

6

Seiten

198-204

Anzahl der Seiten

7

ISSN

1022-6877

Publikationsdatum

2000

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

5010 Psychologie

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/e9ddc85e-2d31-479d-84df-73cee7e9c13a