Management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in drug substitution programs

Publication

Management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in drug substitution programs

Journal Paper/Review - May 27, 2011

Witteck Andrea, Schmid Patrick, Hensel-Koch K, Thurnheer M C, Bruggmann P, Vernazza Pietro

Citation

Witteck A, Schmid P, Hensel-Koch K, Thurnheer M, Bruggmann P, Vernazza P. Management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in drug substitution programs. Swiss Med Wkly 2011; 141:w13193.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Swiss Med Wkly 2011; 141

Publication Date

May 27, 2011

Issn Electronic

1424-3997

Pages

w13193

Brief description/objective

In Switzerland, intravenous drug use (IDU) accounts for 80% of newly acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Early HCV treatment has the potential to interrupt the transmission chain and reduce morbidity/mortality due to decompensated liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Nevertheless, patients in drug substitution programs are often insufficiently screened and treated.