Journal Article

Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Young Adult Injection Drug Users: A Prospective Study of Incident Infection, Resolution, and Reinfection

Shiboski, Stephen, Busch, Michael P., Page, Kimberly, Delwart, Eric, Andrews, William, Tobler, Leslie, Avanesyan, Lia, Lum, Paula, Cooper, Stewart, Hahn, Judith A., Evans, Jennifer

2009

Overview

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, clearance, and reinfection are best studied in injection drug users (IDUs), who have the highest incidence of HCV and are likely to represent most infections MethodsA prospective cohort of HCV-negative young IDUs was followed up from January 2000 to September 2007, to identify acute and incident HCV and prospectively study infection outcomes ResultsAmong 1,191 young IDUs screened, 731 (61.4%) were HCV negative, and 520 (71.1%) of the 731 were enrolled into follow-up. Cumulative HCV incidence was 26.7/100 person-years of observation (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.5–31.6). Of 135 acute/incident HCV infections, 95 (70.4%) were followed; 20 (21.1%) of the 95 infections cleared. Women had a significantly higher incidence of viral clearance than did men (age-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.91 [95% CI, 1.68–5.03]) and also showed a faster rate of early HCV viremia decline (P<.01). The estimated reinfection rate was 24.6/100 person-years of observation (95% CI, 11.7–51.6). Among 7 individuals, multiple episodes of HCV reinfection and reclearance were observed ConclusionsIn this large sample of young IDUs, females show demonstrative differences in their rates of viral clearance and kinetics of early viral decline. Recurring reinfection and reclearance suggest possible protection against persistent infection. These results should inform HCV clinical care and vaccine development

• Publisher: The University of Chicago Press,University of Chicago Press,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Acute Disease / Adult / Antivirals / Biological and medical sciences / Female / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Genotypes / Hepacivirus / Hepatitis C / Hepatitis C - epidemiology / Hepatitis C - etiology / Human viral diseases / Humans / Incidence / Infections / Infectious diseases / Injections / Male / Medical sciences / Microbiology / Odds Ratio / Prospective Studies / Reinfection / Risk Factors / RNA / RNA, Viral - blood / Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications / Time / Viral diseases / Viral hepatitis / Viral load / Viremia / VIRUSES / Young Adult