Antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C in illicit drug users: A systematic review

Antiviral Therapy

Volumn 14, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 467-479

  Zanini, Barbara ^a   Lanzini, Alberto ^a  

^a SPEDALI CIVILI   (Italy)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ANTIDEPRESSANT AGENT; ANTIVIRUS AGENT; BUPRENORPHINE; HEPATITIS C ANTIBODY; INTERFERON; METHADONE; PARACETAMOL; PEGINTERFERON; PEGINTERFERON ALPHA2A; PEGINTERFERON ALPHA2B; RIBAVIRIN;

ANTIVIRAL THERAPY; ATTITUDE TO HEALTH; CLINICAL TRIAL; COST CONTROL; DEPRESSION; DISEASE COURSE; DRUG ABUSE; DRUG ANTAGONISM; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG ELIMINATION; DRUG METABOLISM; DRUG RESPONSE; DRUG SAFETY; HEALTH CARE ACCESS; HEALTH CARE COST; HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; HEPATITIS C; HEROIN DEPENDENCE; HUMAN; IMMUNOMODULATION; INFECTION RISK; INTRAVENOUS DRUG ABUSE; MENTAL DISEASE; METHADONE TREATMENT; MONOTHERAPY; PATIENT ATTITUDE; PATIENT COMPLIANCE; PATIENT SELECTION; PHARMACODYNAMICS; PHYSICIAN ATTITUDE; PREVALENCE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REHABILITATION; REINFECTION; RELAPSE; REVIEW; SECONDARY PREVENTION; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; TREATMENT DURATION; VIRUS TRANSMISSION; WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; DISEASE TRANSMISSION; DRUG USE; HEALTH CARE DELIVERY; HEALTH PERSONNEL ATTITUDE; SUBSTANCE ABUSE;

ANTIVIRAL AGENTS; ATTITUDE OF HEALTH PERSONNEL; ATTITUDE TO HEALTH; DISEASE PROGRESSION; DRUG USERS; HEALTH SERVICES ACCESSIBILITY; HEPATITIS C, CHRONIC; HUMANS; MEDICATION ADHERENCE; SUBSTANCE ABUSE, INTRAVENOUS; TERTIARY PREVENTION;

EID: 68549115309     PISSN: 13596535     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (103)

1. World Health Organization. Hepatitis C. Fact sheet number 164. (Accessed 15 October 2008.) Available from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/ factsheets/fs164/en/print/html
2. Perz JF, Alter MJ. The coming wave of HCV related liver disease: dilemmas and challenges. J Hepatol 2006; 44:441-443.
3. Alter MJ. Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection. World J Gastroenter 2007; 13:2436-2441.
4. Perz JF, Armstrong GL, Farrington LA, Hutin YJ, Bell BP. The contribution of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide. J Hepatol 2006; 45:529-538.
5. Freeman AJ, Dore GJ, Law MG, et al. Estimating progression to cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology 2001; 34:809-816.
6. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-related chronic disease. MMWR Recomm Rep 1998; 47:1-39.
7. Kamili S, Krawcynski K, McCaustaland KA, Li X, Alter MJ. The infectivity of hepatitis C virus after drying and storing at room temperature. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2007; 28:519-524.
8. Laperche S. Blood safety and nucleic acid testing in Europe. Euro Surveill 2005; 10:3-4.
9. Kretzschmar E, Chudy M, Nubling CM, Ross RS, Kruse F, Trobish H. First case of hepatitis C virus transmission by a red blood cell concentrate after introduction of nucleic acid amplification technique screening in Germany: a comparative study with various assays. Vox Sang 2007; 92:297-301.
10. Sutton AJ, Gay NJ, Edmunds WJ, Hope VD, Gill ON, Hickman M. Modelling the force of infection for hepatitis B and hepatitis C in injecting drug users in England and Wales. BMC Infect Dis 2006; 6:93.
11. Villano SA, Vlahov D, Nelson KE, Lyes CM, Cohn S, Thomas DL. Incidence and risk factors for hepatitis C among injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland. J Clin Microbiol 1997; 35:3274-3277.
12. Aceijas C, Stimson GV, Hickman M, Rhodes T, United Nations Reference Group on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care among IDU in Developing and Transitional Countries. Global overview of injecting drug use and HIV infection among injecting drug users. AIDS 2004; 18:2295-2303.
13. Esteban JI, Sauleda S, Quer J. The changing epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Europe. J Hepatol 2008; 48:148-162.
14. Aceijas C, Rhodes T. Global estimates of prevalence of HCV infection among injection drug users. Int J Drug Policy 2007; 18:352-358.
15. Scheinmann R, Hagan H, Lelutiu-Weinberger C, et al. Non injection drug use and hepatitis C virus. A systematic review. Drug Alcolol Depend 2007; 89:1-12.
16. Galperim B, Cheinquer H, Stein A, Fonseca A, Lunge V, Ikuta N. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in alcoholic patients: role of parenteral risk factors. Arq Gastroenterol 2006; 43:81-84.
17. Matheï C, Van Dooren S, Lemey P, Van Damme P, Buntinx F, Vandamme AM. The epidemic history of hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Flanders, Belgium. J Viral Hepat 2008; 15:399-408.
18. Alter MJ, Moyer LA. The importance of preventing hepatitis C virus infection among injection drug users in the United States. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1998; 18 Suppl 1:S6-S10.
19. Edlin BR. Hepatitis C prevention and treatment for substance users in the United states: acknowledging the elephant in the living room. Int J Drug Policy 2004; 15:81-91.
20. Sorensen JL, Copeland AL. Drug abuse treatment as an HIV prevention strategy: a review. Drug Alcohol Depend 2000; 59:17-31.
21. Ellard J. 'There is no profile it is just everyone': the challenge of targeting hepatitis C education and prevention messages to the diversity of current and future injecting drug users. Int J Drug Policy 2007; 18:225-234.
22. Mateu-Gelabert P, Treloar C, Calatayud VA, et al. How can hepatitis C be prevented in the long term? Int J Drug Policy 2007; 18:338-340.
23. Kamal SM, Fouly AE, Kamel RR, et al. Peginterferon alfa-2b therapy in acute hepatitis C: impact of onset of therapy on sustained virologic response. Gastroenterology 2006; 130:632-638.
24. Sterling RK, Sulkowski MS. Hepatitis C virus in the setting of HIV or hepatitis B coinfection. Semin Liver Dis 2004; 24:61-68.
25. Vento S, Garofano T, Renzini C, et al. Fulminant hepatitis associated with hepatitis A virus superinfection in patients with chronic hepatitis C. N Engl J Med 1998; 338:286-290.
26. National Institutes of Health, Interventions to prevent HIV risk behaviours. NIH Consensus Statement 11-13 February 1997;15:1-41. (Accessed 15 October 2008.) Available from http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/ 1997PreventHIVRisk104html.htm
27. Foster GR. Injecting drug users with chronic hepatitis C: should they be offered antiviral therapy? Addiction 2008; 103:1412-1413.
28. Edlin BR, Seal KH, Lorvick J, et al. Is it justifiable to withhold treatment for hepatitis C from illicit drug users? N Engl J Med 2001; 345:211-214.
29. Dieperink E, Willenbring M, Ho SB. Neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with hepatitis C and interferon alpha: a review. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157:867-876.
30. Knott A, Dieperink E, Willenbring M, et al. Integrated psychiatric/medical care in chronic hepatitis C clinic: effect on antiviral treatment evaluation and outcomes. Am J Gastroenterol 2006; 101:2254-2262.
31. Schaefer M, Hinzpeter A, Mohmand A, et al. Hepatitis C treatment in "difficult to treat" psychiatric patients with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin: response and psychiatric side effects. Hepatology 2007; 46:991-998.
32. National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: management of hepatitis C. Hepatology 2002; 36:S3-S20.
33. Dienstag JL, McHutchson JG. American Gastroenterological Association technical review on the management of hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 2006; 130:231-264.
34. Edlin BR, Carden MR. Injection drug users: the overlooked core of the hepatitis C epidemic. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 42:673-676.
35. Cawthorne CH, Rudat KR, Burton MS, et al. Limited success of HCV antiviral therapy in United States veterans. Am J Gastroenterol 2002; 97:149-155.
36. Falck-Ytter Y, Kale H, Mullen KD, Sarbah SA, Sorescu L, McCullough AJ. Surprisingly small effect of antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C. Ann Intern Med 2002; 136:288-292.
37. Seal KH, Currie SL, Shen H, et al. Hepatitis C treatment candidacy and outcomes among 4318 US Veterans with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Does a history of injection drug use matter? J Clin Gastroenterol 2007; 41:199-205.
38. Munoz-Plaza CE, Strauss S, Astone-Twerell J, et al. Exploring drug users' attitude and decision regarding hepatitis C (HCV) treatment in the U.S. Int J Drug Policy 2008; 19:71-78.
39. Doab A, Treloar C, Dore GJ. Knowledge and attitudes about treatment for hepatitis C virus infection and barriers to treatment among current injection drug users in Australia. Clin Infect Dis 2005; 40:S313-S320.
40. Risdahl JM, Khanna KW, Peterson KW, Molitor TW. Opiates and infections. J Neuroimmunol 1998; 83:4-18.
41. Novick DM, Ochshorn M, Ghali V, et al. Natural killer cell activity and lymphocyte subset in parenteral heroin abusers and long term methadone maintenance patients. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1989; 250:606-610.
42. Neri S, Bruno CM, Pulvirenti D, et al. Randomized clinical trial to compare the effects of methadone and buprenorphine on the immune system in drug users. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2005; 179:700-704.
43. Sacerdote P, Franchi S, Gerra G, Leccese V, Penerai AE, Somaini L. Buprenorphine and methadone maintenance treatment of heroin addicts preserves immune function. Brain Behav Immun 2008; 22:606-613.
44. Berk SI, Litwin AH, Arnsten JH, Du E, Soloway I, Gourevitch MN. Effects of pegylated interferon alfa-2b on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of methadone: a prospective, nonrandomized, crossover study in patients coinfected with hepatitis C and HIV receiving methadone maintenance treatment. Clin Ther 2007; 29:131-138.
45. Sulkowski M, Wright T, Rossi S, et al. Peginterferon alfa-2a does not alter the pharmacokinetics of methadone in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing methadone maintenance therapy. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2005; 77:214-224.
46. Gupta SK, Sellers E, Samoza E, Angles L, Kolz K, Culter DL. The effect of multiple doses of peginterferon alfa-2b on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of methadone in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing methadone maintenance therapy. J Clin Pbarmacol 2007; 47:604-612.
47. Sylvestre DL. Treating hepatitis C in methadone maintenance patients: an interim analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend 2002; 67:117-123.
48. Mauss S, Berger A Goelz J, Jacob B, Schmutz G. A prospective controlled study of interferon-based therapy of chronic hepatitis C in patients on methadone maintenance. Hepatology 2004; 40:120-124.
49. Jeffrey GP, MacQuillan G, Chua F, et al. Successful hepatitis C virus eradication in intravenous drug users maintained with subcutaneous naltrexone implants. 57th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 27-31 October 2006, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 375.
50. Simonova M, Katzarov K, Takov D, et al. Therapeutic efficacy of 24 weeks' antiviral treatment in addicted patient on methadone maintenance therapy who have chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, with low baseline viremia. 57th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 27-31 October 2006, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 363.
51. Belfiori B, Chiodera A, Ciliegi P, et al. Treatment of hepatitis C virus in injection drug users on opioid replacement therapy: a rospective multicentre study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 19:731-732.
52. Ciaccio A, Ferraro D, Alaimo G, Maggio AM, Craxì A, Almasio P. Feasibility of combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C in IVDU in the framework of an heroin detoxification protocol. 58th American Association for the Study ot Liver Diseases. 2-6 November 2007, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 346.
53. Guadagnino V, Trotta MP, Montesano F, et al. Effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary standardized management model in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in drug addicts engaged in detoxification programs. Addiction 2007; 102:423-431.
54. Krook AL, Stokka D, Heger B, Nygaard E. Hepatitis C treatment of opioid dependants receiving maintenance treatment: results of a Norwegian pilot study. Eur Addict Res 2007; 13:216-221.
55. Neri S, Travali S, Bertino G, et al. Immune response in addicts with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon and ribavirin. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 22:74-79.
56. Schaefer M, Hinzpeter A, Mohmand A, et al. Hepatitis C treatment in 'difficult to treat' psychiatric patients with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin: response and psychiatric side effects. Hepatology 2007; 46:591-998.
57. Wilkinson M, Crawford V, Tippet A, et al. Community based treatment for chronic hepatitis C in drug use: high rates of compliance with therapy despite on-going drug use (HCV drug users). Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2008. In press.
58. Chainuvati S, Khalid SK, Kancir S, et al. Comparison of hepatitis C treatment patterns in patients with and without psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. J Viral Hepat 2006; 13:235-241.
59. Bruggmann P, Falcato LM, Helbling B, et al. Active intravenous drug use during chronic hepatitis C therapy does not reduce sustained virological response rates in adherent patients. J Viral Hepat 2008; 15:747-752.
60. Manns MP, McHuthison JG, Gordon SC, et al. Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin compared with interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a randomized trial. Lancet 2001; 358:958-965.
61. Fried MW, Shiffman ML, Reddy KR, et al. Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:975-982.
62. Poynard T, McHutchison J, Goodman Z, Ling MH, Albrecht J. Is an 'a la carte' combination interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin regimen possible for the first line treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C? Hepatology 2000; 31:211-218.
63. Davis GL, Wong JB, McHutchison JG, Mantis MP, Harvey J, Albrecht J. Early virologic response to treatment with peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 2003; 38:645-652.
64. Hueppe D, Zehnter E, Manus MP, Mauss S, Prinzing R. Treatment of peginterferon alfa 2b and ribavirin of chronic hepatitis C patients on substitution therapy and outcome in the clinical setting in Germany. 57th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 27-31 October 2006, Boston, USA. Abstract 394.
65. Hussaini H, Cole E, Flynn A, Bergin J. Substitute opiate use in intravenous drug users (IVDUs) does not adversely affect sustained virological response (SVR) following treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin. 57th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 27-31 October 2006, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 396.
66. Anagnostou O, Manolakopoulos S, Deutsch M, et al. Drug users with chronic hepatitis C who are adherent to antiviral treatment will finally benefit from therapy. Digestive Disease Week. 17-22 May 2008, San Francisco, CA, USA. Abstract S1013.
67. Schaefer M, Schmidt F, Folwaczny C, et al. Adherence and mental side effects during hepatitis C treatment with interferon alfa and ribavirin in psychiatric risk group. Hepatology 2003; 37:443-451.
68. Brigada R, Bonasso M, Borroni G, et al. Overcoming barriers to treatment of hepatitis C in Italian drug users. The importance of a co-management model of care. 57th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 27-31 October 2006, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 374.
69. Grebely J, Raffa JD, Meagher C, et al. Directly observed therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in current and former drug users. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 22:1519-1525.
70. Grebely J, Genoway K, Khara M, et al. Treatment uptake and outcome among current and former injection drug users receiving directly observed therapy within multidisciplinary group model for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. Int J Drug Policy 2007; 18:437-443.
71. Van Thiel DH, Anantharaju A, Creech S. Response to treatment of hepatitis C in individuals with a recent history of intravenous drug abuse. Am J Gastroenterol 2003; 98:2281-2288.
72. Robaeys G, Van Vlierberghe H, Matheï C, et al. Similar compliance and effect of treatment in chronic hepatitis C resulting from intravenous drug use in comparison with other infection causes. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18:159-166.
73. Huckans MS, Loftis JM, Blackwell AD, Linke A, Hauser P. Interferon alpha therapy for hepatitis C: treatment completion and response rates among patients with substance use disorders. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2007; 2:4.
74. Mauss S, Hüppe D, Zehnter E, et al. Opioid maintenance therapy is not associated with treatment failure to hepatitis C therapy in a large German multicentre cohort. 58th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 2-6 November 2007, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 253.
75. Backmund M, Meyer K, Von Zielonka K, Eichenlaub D. Treatment of hepatitis C infection in injection drug users. Hepatology 2001; 34:188-193.
76. Huber M, Weber R, Opplinger R, et al. Interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin 1000/1200 mg versus interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin 600 mg for chronic hepatitis C infection in patients on opiate maintenance treatment. An open-label randomized multicenter trial. Infection 2005; 33:25-29.
77. Antonucci G, Longo MA, Angeletti C, et al. The effect of age on response to therapy with peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin in a cohort of patients with chronic HCV hepatitis including subjects older than 65 yr. Am J Gastroenterol 2007; 102:1383-1391.
78. Thomson BJ, Kwong G, Ratib S, et al. Response rate to combination therapy for chronic HCV infection in a clinical setting and derivation of probability tables for individual patient management. J. Viral Hepat. 2008; 15:271-278.
79. Friedman E, Aye L, Ramirez FC, Gerkin R, Tharalson E, Gilani N. Factors associated with premature discontinuation of chronic hepatitis C virus treatment using pegylated interferon and ribavirin: a four year experience. Digestive Disease Week. 17-22 May 2008, San Francisco, CA, USA. Abstract S1017.
80. Andriulli A, Mangia A, Iacobellis A, Ippolito A, Leandro G, Zeuzem S. Meta-analysis: the outcome of antiviral therapy HCV genotype 2 and genotype 3 infected patients with chronic hepatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2008; 28:397-404.
81. Yu ML, Dai CY, Huang JF, et al. Rapid virologic response and treatment duration for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 patients: a randomized trial. Hepatology 2008; 47:1884-1893.
82. Matthews AM, Fireman M, Zucker B, Sobel M, Hauser P. Relapse to opioid use after treatment of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163:1342-1347.
83. Nickel T, Sonntag A, Backmund M, Pollmächer T. Depression during therapy with interferon alpha - how long should an antidepressant treatment last? Pharmacopsichiatry 2005; 38:102-104.
84. Currie SL, Ryan JC, Tracy D, et al. A prospective study to examine persistent HCV reinfection in injection drug users who have previously cleared the virus. Drug Alcohol Depend 2008; 93:148-154.
85. Farci P, Alter HJ, Govindarajan S, et al. Lack of protective immunity against reinfection with hepatitis C virus. Science 1992; 258:135-140.
86. White PA, Grebely J, Flynn JK, et al. Natural history of HCV superinfection and reinfection. 59th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 31 October-4 November 2008, San Francisco, CA, USA. Abstract 1057.
87. Micallef JM, Macdonald V, Jauncey M, et al. High incidence of hepatitis C virus reinfection within a cohort of injecting drug users. J Viral Hepat 2007; 14:413-418.
88. Grebely J, Conway B, Raffa JD, Lai C, Krajden M, Tyndall MW. Hepatitis C virus reinfection in injection drug users. Hepatology 2006; 44:1139-1145.
89. Edlin BR. Prevention and treatment of hepatitis C in injection drug users. Hepatology 2002; 36:S210-S19.
90. Schaefer M, Heinz A, Backmund M. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with drug dependence: time to change the rules? Addiction 2004; 99:1167-1175.
91. Novick DM, Kreek MJ. Critical issues in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in methadone maintenance patients. Addiction 2008; 103:905-918.
92. Muir AJ, Provenzale D. A descriptive evaluation of eligibility for therapy among xeterans with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. J Clin Gastroenterol 2002; 34:268-271.
93. Yawn BP, Wollan P, Gazzuola L, et al. Diagnosis and 10-year follow-up of a community-based hepatitis C cohort. J Fam Pract 2002; 51:135-140.
94. Gazzuola Rocca L, Yawn BP, Wollan P, Kim WR. Management of patients with hepatitis C in a community population: diagnosis, discussion and decision to treat. Ann Fam Med 2004; 2:116-124.
95. Butt AA, Wagener M, Shakil AO, Ahmad J. Reasons for no-treatment of hepatitis C in veterans in care. J Viral Hepat 2005; 12:81-85.
96. Bini EJ, Bräu N, Currie S, et al. Prospective multicenter study for eligibility for antiviral therapy among 4,084 U.S. Veterans with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Am J Gastroenterol 2005; 100:1772-1779.
97. Morrill JA, Shrestha M, Grant RW. Barriers to the treatment of hepatitis C. J Gen Intern Med 2005; 20:754-758.
98. Cheung RC, Cunningham BA, Cooper AD. Effectiveness of screening program for hepatitis C. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51:976-981.
99. Evon DM, Verma A, Dougherty K, et al. High deferral rates and poorer treatment outcomes for HCV patients with psychiatric and substance use comorbidities. Dig Dis Sci 2007; 52:3251-3258.
100. Jowett SL, Agarwall K, Smith BC, et al. Managing chronic hepatitis C acquired through intravenous drug use. QJM 2001; 94:153-158.
101. Cournot M, Glibert A, Castel F, et al. Management of hepatitis C in active drug users: experience of an addiction care hepatology unit. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 2004; 28:533-539.
102. Dalgard O. Follow-up studies of treatment for hepatitis C virus infection among injection drug users. Clin Infect Dis 2005; 40:S336-S338.
103. Grebely J, Raffa JD, Genoway K, et al. Infrequent hepatitis C virus (HCV) re-infection after sustained virological response (SVR) among current and former drug users (IDUS) having received treatment of HCV infection. 58th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 2-6 November 2007, Boston, MA, USA. Abstract 295.