Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (36)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by PATTI, A M
Right arrow Articles by FARA, G M
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by PATTI, A M
Right arrow Articles by FARA, G M
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1993 Oxford University Press

other

Viral Hepatitis and Drugs: A Continuing Problem

A M PATTI*, A L SANTI*, M G POMPA*, C GIUSTINI{dagger}, N VESCIA*, I MASTROENI{ddagger} and G M FARA{dagger}

* Institute of Hygiene, ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome Piazzale, Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
{dagger} Blood Transfusion Service, CTO Hospital Rome, Italy
{ddagger} Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari Italy

A seroepidemiological survey of a group of drug abusers has been carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, hepatitis D virus, hepatitis A virus infection markers in sera, as well as to evaluate the role of potential risk factors. A total of 645 symptomless subjects with a history of injecting heroin were recruited as volunteers from methadone maintenance centres in Rome. For all hepatitis viruses the total figures showed high prevalence rates giving considerable viral circulation in this group. Among heroin addicts the prevalence was 63.4% for HCV, 65% for HBV, 13.3% for HDV and 50.9% for HAV. Anti-HCV prevalence correlated with serological evidence of HBV infection. A significant correlation was also found between presence of HCV antibodies and exposure time to drug addiction >5 years earlier. The data reveal the important role played by needle sharing in the spreading of multiple infections among intravenous drug abusers (IVDA).

Received 1 July 1992


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Evid. Based Ment. HealthHome page
D. Marsh
Disulfiram was effective in patients with cocaine abuse who were also methadone treated opioid addicts
Evid. Based Ment. Health, February 1, 2001; 4(1): 18 - 18.
[Full Text]

Home page
 BMJHome page
I. van Beek, R. Dwyer, G. J Dore, K. Luo, and J. M Kaldor
Infection with HIV and hepatitis C virus among injecting drug users in a prevention setting: retrospective cohort study
BMJ, August 15, 1998; 317(7156): 433 - 437.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.