Hepatitis C virus treatment in people who inject drugs (PWID) in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND

Given the considerable social marginalization experienced by people who inject drugs (PWID), treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this population presents unique challenges. This study assessed the feasibility of treating HCV infection with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications among PWID receiving harm reduction services from a Drop-in-Center in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

METHODS

In this prospective study conducted between December 2016 and May 2018, 200 PWID with either recent injecting drug use (i.e., within the previous two months) or a history of injecting drug use and are currently receiving opioid substitution therapy were recruited. Blood was collected to conduct relevant laboratory tests. Eligible PWID who tested positive for HCV RNA (n = 55), were provided daily daclatasvir (60 mg) and sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 12 weeks after which adherence level, sustained virologic response (SVR), and reinfection were assessed.

RESULTS

At baseline, 40% (n = 79) of the 200 participants recruited to the study tested positive for antibodies to HCV and 34% (n = 68) had detectable HCV RNA in their blood. Of 55 eligible PWID who initiated treatment, 93% (n = 51) completed treatment while 87% (n = 48) were available for follow-up SVR assessment, all of whom achieved SVR. Thus, intent-to-treat SVR was 87% and the modified intent-to-treat SVR was 100% with one reinfection (4•2 cases per 100 person-years). Further, 75% (i.e., 41 out of the 55 participants) were at least 90% adherent to therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our findings strongly suggest that HCV treatment using sofosbuvir+daclatasvir for PWID enrolled in existing harm reduction programs in Bangladesh is feasible but may require additional interventions such as Opioid Substitution Therapy, intense follow up by outreach workers, and services and counselling provided by full time clinicians.