Combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the management of chronic hepatitis C in a prison setting
Braz. j. infect. dis
; Braz. j. infect. dis;10(4): 274-278, Aug. 2006. ilus
Article
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| ID: lil-440682
Biblioteca responsable:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
The elevated frequency of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection found among prison inmates, and the availability of improved pharmacological cure for this potentially life-threatening disorder, make investigations conducted in this somewhat neglected area very relevant, since only a few, open-label experiences have been reported till now. In the metropolitan prison of Bologna (Italy), HCV seroprevalence was found to be over 31 percent in 2003, so that a pilot feasibility study based on treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin was initiated, after careful counseling carried out by a joint commission of health care personnel of the correctional facility and infectious diseases consultants. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled, and despite expected dropouts due to difficulty in maintaining the same level of counseling pressure over time, and the particularly unfavorable climatic conditions during Summer 2003, a sustained virological response was obtained for 8 out of the 21 patients who remained evaluable after the first three month follow-up, although we need to take into account that a high percentage of subjects (67 percent) were selected for therapy due to their favorable HCV genotypes (types 2 and 3). Our preliminary experience shows that an intrinsically complicated therapy, such as the administration of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, can attain a relatively high success rate, even in a very unfavorable and uncomfortable context, such as a prison, where only enforced counseling, active participation of institutional health care operators, and patient's willingness to maintain an elevated level of co-operation and adherence, can overcome most structural and relational difficulties.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
LILACS
Asunto principal:
Antivirales
/
Prisiones
/
Ribavirina
/
Interferón-alfa
/
Hepatitis C Crónica
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Asunto de la revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Año:
2006
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia
Pais de publicación:
Brasil