Hepatitis C Seroconversion in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs in Wuhan, China

To decrease infectious disease transmission, China is expanding methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This study evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at MMT entry, seroconversion rates after admission and potential risk factors for HCV seroconversion during MMT in Wuhan, China.

Cross-sectional survey of all patients entering MMT and prospective follow-up of patients HCV seronegative at admission.

All MMT clinics in Wuhan, China.

A total of 12 755 opiate-dependent individuals entering MMT between May 2006 and June 2011; 1200 participants HCV seronegative at admission were followed.

Serological tests for HCV and self-report data on risk behaviors at MMT admission; urine toxicology results and repeated assessments of serological status and risk behaviors during treatment on patients HCV seronegative at admission.

HCV seroprevalence at admission was 72.1% and 555/1200 patients seroconverted to HCV during MMT. The mean time to HCV seroconversion was 3 years with a cumulative seroconversion rate of 34.5 per 100 person-years. Significant predictors of HCV conversion included injection drug use in the past 30 days and the rate of opiate-positive urine tests during MMT .

Methadone maintenance treatment patients in Wuhan, China show a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus at admission (72.1%) and a high rate of seroconversion during treatment (46.3%). Seroconversion is associated with continuing injection drug use.

Via:  http://ht.ly/SJ2t9  Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/L33Krn

By: Zhou W1, Wang X, Zhou S, Xie N, Liu P, Luo L, Peng J, Liu M, Desrosiers A, Schottenfeld R, Chawarski MC.

• 1Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight