Related Experiment Videos
High morbidity expected from cirrhosis in injecting drug users
P Kavanagh1, J Moloney, C Quinn
1National Liver Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4.
Irish Medical Journal
|February 12, 2004
Summary
Hepatitis C is prevalent in Irish injecting drug users, with many showing poor prognostic factors. This indicates a substantial future burden of liver disease, including cirrhosis and cancer, within this population.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis C infection is a significant health issue among injecting drug users.
- The long-term outcomes and national disease burden related to Hepatitis C in this cohort in Ireland remain unquantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of persistent Hepatitis C viraemia and genotype distribution in a cohort of Irish drug users.
- To assess the frequency of co-factors associated with a poor prognosis for Hepatitis C.
- To estimate the national burden of Hepatitis C-related liver disease attributable to injecting drug use.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among attendees at an East Coast Area drug treatment clinic.
- Hepatitis C antibody and PCR positivity were assessed, along with viral genotype.
- Prevalence of poor prognostic factors (male gender, problem drinking, abnormal liver function tests) was recorded.
Main Results:
- Out of 94 participants, 70 tested positive for Hepatitis C antibodies and 39 for PCR.
- Genotype 1 was found in 26 individuals, and genotypes 2 or 3 in 11.
- A high frequency of poor prognostic factors was observed: 72% were male, 83% problem drinkers, and 87% had abnormal liver blood tests.
Conclusions:
- Injecting drug use in Ireland is associated with a high prevalence of Hepatitis C infection.
- The presence of multiple poor prognostic co-factors in this cohort suggests a significant future burden of advanced liver disease.
- National extrapolation indicates over 1,214 annual cases of cirrhosis, with substantial numbers of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic decompensation, and liver-related deaths are expected from this transmission route.