Infecction by Hepatitis C Virus and Intravenous Drug Consumption

Abstract

Background: To know the antibodies seroprevalence against hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as other factors associated to these antibodies presente in a group of intravenous drug users (IVDU) in Baleares. To know what screening test would be the most adecuate to detect antibodies against HCV in this group. Methods: The presente of HCV antibodies in serum was determined in 110 IVDU patients, admitted to hospital during 1990 in a unit of opium detoxibying, by techniques ezimoinmunotesting (ELISA) and inmunoblotting (RIBA); the drug abuse history as well as serologies against human inmunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and syphilis. Results: The seroprevalence found by techniques ELISA is 71% and 95% respectively for the tests of first and second generation; using the method RIBA the seroprevalence is 86%. The HIV seroprevalence was 36% and a 53% were anti-HBs positive. No significative differences were found between the positive and negative anti HCV in relation with drug use variables: as first year of consumption and time of adiction, nor with the presente of HIV and HBV markers. Conclusions: The HCV seroprevalence among IVDU of the sample studied is similar to those described for this risk group by other authors in other zones. Such infection is not statistically associated with other variables of the drug abuse history nor with the tiection by HBV and HIV Despite the discordantes of the HCV seroprevalence with the three test used in the study, the technique ELISA of second generation could be the ideal method of screening of antibodies against the HCV in this risk group.