• 1. The proportion of IDUs who have clear medical contraindications to HCV treatment. 2. The prevalence of significant hepatic fibrosis among treatment eligible IDUs. 3. The proportion of treatment-eligible IDUs who initiate PEG/RBV therapy. [ Time Frame: 4 years ]
  

• The proportion of IDUs without clear contraindications who might be excluded by each of the 7 controversial contraindications. [ Time Frame: 4 years ]
  

Injection drug use is the predominant mode of hepatitis C (HCV) transmission in the United States and most injection drug users (IDUs) have HCV infection. HCV infection can cause progressive hepatic fibrosis (cirrhosis) over 20 or more years, leading, in some patients, to end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and death. Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is present in 20-30% of HCV-infected IDUs, and is associated with the more rapid progression of HCV-related liver disease causing HCV infection to be considered as an opportunistic infection. While treatment of hepatitis C with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin (PEG/RBV) eradicates HCV infection in approximately one-half of patients, persons receiving methadone maintenance therapy, those who have recently used illicit drugs, and those with comorbidities (e.g., HIV infection, psychiatric disease) have been largely excluded from HCV treatment protocols. This research addresses the reality that the persons most affected by HCV infection (IDUs) are the least studied and the least treated, a disparity that becomes even more compelling as the success of HCV therapy increases. The principal goal of this research proposal is to expand the proportion of former and active injection drug users (IDUs) with HIV co-infection that benefit from hepatitis C care by assessing eligibility for treatment, medical necessity, and effectiveness of enhanced patient education prior to the initiation of HCV treatment among this patient population. To achieve these objectives, we plan to ask three fundamental questions: (1) what proportion of IDUs are eligible for hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy based on both established and controversial criteria; (2) what proportion of IDUs currently need HCV treatment according to 2002 NIH consensus guidelines; and (3) what proportion of these treatment-eligible IDUs will initiate HCV therapy provided at no cost either as directly observed therapy compared to standard of care and is HCV treatment of IDUs more effective when enhanced patient education is provided prior to the initiation of HCV treatment. By answering these questions, we will 1) characterize the extent to which these various criteria affect treatment eligibility among IDUs; 2) define the magnitude of the medical need for treatment in these settings; and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of directly observed therapy versus standard of care and patient education on the initiation of HCV treatment. Overall, the study will provide much needed data to guide development of policies and guidelines for the treatment of HCV infection among IDUs, the largest risk group in the United States.