[Hepatitis C viral infection and the consumption of intravenous drugs]

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

[Hepatitis C viral infection and the consumption of intravenous drugs]

Rev Sanid Hig Publica (Madr). 1992 May-Aug;66(3-4):233-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/95242030
Payeras Cifre A; Socias Moya M; Forteza-Rei Borralleras J; Besalduch Vidal J; Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de; Mallorca, Baleares.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To know the antibodies seroprevalence against hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as other factors associated to these antibodies presence in a group of intravenous drug users (IVDU) in Baleares. To know what screening test would be the most adequate to detect antibodies against HCV in this group. METHODS: The presence of HCV antibodies in serum was determined in 110 IVDU patients, admitted to hospital during 1990 in a unit of opium detoxifying, by techniques enzyme immunotesting (ELISA) and immunoblotting (RIBA); the drug abuse history as well as serologies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and syphilis. RESULTS: The seroprevalence found by techniques ELISA is 71% and 95% respectively for the tests of first and second generation; using the method RIBA the seroprevalence is 86%. The HIV seroprevalence was 36% and a 53% were anti-HBs positive. No significative differences were found between the positive and negative anti HCV in relation with drug use variables: as first year of consumption and time of addiction, nor with the presence of HIV and HBV markers. CONCLUSIONS: The HCV seroprevalence among IVDU of the sample studied is similar to those described for this risk group by other authors in other zones. Such infection is not statistically associated with other variables of the drug abuse history nor with the infection by HBV and HIV. Despite the discordances of the HCV seroprevalence with the three test used in the study, the technique ELISA of second generation could be the ideal method of screening of antibodies against the HCV in this risk group.

Keywords: Chi-Square Distribution Comparative Study Discriminant Analysis English Abstract Female Hepatitis Antibodies/BLOOD Hepatitis C/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY Hepatitis C Viruses/IMMUNOLOGY Human Male *Narcotics Prevalence Risk Factors Seroepidemiologic Methods Spain/EPIDEMIOLOGY Substance Abuse, Intravenous/*COMPLICATIONS/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE
950730
M9570943

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