       Document 0230
 DOCN  M9610230
 TI    Hepatitis C seroprevalence amongst injecting drug users attending a
       methadone programme.
 DT    9601
 AU    Chetwynd J; Brunton C; Blank M; Plumridge E; Baldwin D; Department of
       Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch; School of Medicine.
 SO    N Z Med J. 1995 Sep 8;108(1007):364-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96013265
 AB    AIM. To study the seroprevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst
       a population of injecting drug users and to examine the relationship
       between potential risk factors and HCV infection. METHODS. A sample of
       116 clients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Christchurch took
       part in this study. Blood samples were analysed to detect antibodies to
       HCV and to test for HCV RNA. Serum transaminases were also measured. In
       addition a short questionnaire about sexual behaviour and drug use
       practices was self completed by all participants in strictest
       confidence. RESULTS. Slightly more than half the sample were female
       (54.3%) and most were of European origin (90.6%). The average age was
       31.56 years and the average length of time they had been injecting drugs
       was 9.54 years. HCV antibodies were detected in 84.2% of the sample and
       HCV RNA in 66.1% of the sample including 75.9% amongst those who were
       anti-HCV positive and 16.6% amongst those who were anti-HCV negative.
       AST and ALT levels were elevated amongst 16.8% and 46.2% of the sample
       respectively. The likelihood of being anti-HCV positive increased with
       years of drug use and with increased sharing of injecting equipment. No
       significant relationship between HCV status and sexual practices was
       evident. Data on the history of drug using practices indicated that
       sharing of injecting equipment had become less common over time and
       access to new equipment through reliable sources had become more common
       with time. CONCLUSIONS. HCV is widespread amongst this population of
       injecting drug users suggesting the possibility of a major clinical and
       social problem. Despite evidence of a reduction in the sharing of
       injecting equipment, HCV transmission is still occurring indicating the
       potential for other parenterally transmitted diseases, such as HIV, to
       become established amongst injecting drug users. Those at high risk of
       HCV should be discouraged from donating blood because of the possibility
       of HCV seronegative infectivity.
 DE    Adult  Blood Donors  Female  Hepatitis
       C/DIAGNOSIS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY  Hepatitis C Antibodies/BLOOD  Human
       Male  Methadone/THERAPEUTIC USE  Narcotics/THERAPEUTIC USE  Needle
       Sharing/ADVERSE EFFECTS/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  New
       Zealand/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Prisoners/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Regression
       Analysis  Risk Factors  RNA, Viral/BLOOD  Seroepidemiologic Methods  Sex
       Behavior  Substance Abuse, Intravenous/*COMPLICATIONS/EPIDEMIOLOGY/
       REHABILITATION  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

