Characterization of former heroin addict patients with hepatitis C virus antibodies in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic in Israel

Aims: To compare characteristics, retention in treatment and cessation of drug abuse of 249 positive hepatitis C (HCV+) with 188 negative hepatitis C (HCV-) antibody patients. Methods: Data on Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV results, urine-proven drug use, and modified ASI of all patients admitted to the Adelson MMT clinic between June/1993-Dec/2002 were prospectively collected. Results: HCV+ patients manifested more ever injecting drug use, immigrants, positive HIV antibody, hepatitis B antigen, years of opiate addiction pre-MMT and benzodiazepines misuse after one year in MMT than HCV- patients, with similar 1-year retention and proportion of opiate use cessation. Conclusions: Although characteristics of HCV+ and HCV- differed, they manifested similar outcomes: treatment retention and proportion of opiate use cessation.