Premium
Hepatitis C virus serology in parenteral drug users with chronic liver disease
Author(s) -
NOVICK DAVID M.,
REAGAN KEVIN J.,
CROXSON T. SCOTT,
GELB ALVIN M.,
STENGER RICHARD J.,
KREEK MARY JEANNE
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1997.tb03649.x
Subject(s) - medicine , serology , chronic liver disease , liver disease , drug , virology , disease , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis , viral disease , immunology , hepatitis c , virus , antibody , cirrhosis , pharmacology
Chronic liver disease is a common complication of parenteral drug use, and liver cirrhosis is frequently seen in users of both parenteral drugs and alcohol. In 1978‐83, we studied 88 parenteral drug users with sufficient evidence of chronic liver disease to warrant liver biopsy. Current alcohol abuse was noted in 63 (72%), and six (7%) were former alcohol abusers. Cirrhosis was found in 33 (38%). Hepatitis C antibody (anti‐HCV) was detected in 86 (98%). Also, 40 of the anti‐HCV positive sera were tested with recombinant immunoblot assay and all of these were reactive. All but one of the 31 patients with anti‐HCV and cirrhosis were alcohol abusers. We conclude that parenteral drug users with chronic liver disease almost always have evidence of HCV infection. By 1978‐83, HCV infection had become well established in an addict population.