Combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the management of chronic hepatitis C in a prison setting
Braz. j. infect. dis
;
10(4): 274-278, Aug. 2006. ilus
Artigo
em Inglês
| LILACS
| ID: lil-440682
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:
DisponíveL
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Assunto principal:
Antivirais
/
Prisões
/
Ribavirina
/
Interferon-alfa
/
Hepatite C Crônica
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo observacional
/
Estudo de prevalência
/
Estudo prognóstico
/
Fatores de risco
Limite:
Adulto
/
Feminino
/
Humanos
/
Masculino
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Assunto da revista:
Doenças Transmissíveis
Ano de publicação:
2006
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
País de afiliação:
Itália
Instituição/País de afiliação:
University of Bologna/IT
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