PWID Infected With Hepatitis C Virus Can Achieve SVR Despite Imperfect Adherence to Treatment

The following excerpt is from a story produced by Maryland Magazine. Read the full story at  www.mdmag.com.

By:Danielle Mroz
Maryland Magazine
www.mdmag.com

People who inject drugs who are infected with hepatitis C virus can achieve sustained viral response, despite imperfect adherence, according to the results of a new trial.

Although they are at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection and transmission, people who inject drugs tend to be excluded from treatment and coverage of treatment by health insurance because of concerns over adherence to therapy. As this population is most urgently in need of treatment, a team of investigators, led by Elana Rosenthal, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Clinical Care and Research, at the Institute of Human Virology, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in Baltimore, Maryland, set out to evaluate adherence in this population and determine if people who inject drugs are able to achieve cure of hepatitis C virus infection.