Hepatitis C virus infection in intravenous drug users

Abstract

Intravenous drug use (IVDU) remains a major means of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. In this study, 101 drug users were studied prospectively after cessation of IVDU. Of these, 75.8% were anti-HCV positive, and 71.4% had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase. These levels decreased significantly within 1 month of IVDU cessation (p 0.02). Liver biopsies showed minimal or mild fibrosis in 32 (71%) of 45 subjects, and severe fibrosis in two (4.4%) subjects. Anti-HCV-positive intravenous drug users in this study presented with mild liver disease and variable stages of disease progression. Biochemical disease activity might be affected by IVDU. © 2004 Copyright by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.