Barriers to antiviral treatment in hepatitis C infected intravenous drug users.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays intravenous drug use is the main source of hepatitis C transmission, but only a small proportion of those who acquired infection via intravenous drug use receive antiviral treatment.

AIM: to assess the barriers of access to antiviral treatment of infected intravenous drug users.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was carried out in a hepatology outpatient clinic including all hepatitis C infected intravenous drug users in a 3-year period.

RESULTS

Only one-third of the infected former intravenous drug users received antiviral treatment. The main barrier to antiviral treatment was the lack of abstinence. Former intravenous drug users in prison or in long-term drug rehabilitation institutes were more likely to enter antiviral treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The low proportion of patients entering antiviral treatment calls the attention to further improving the pretreatment management of this patient population. Special attention should be paid to the maintenance of abstinence.