Increased Hepatitis C virus screening, diagnosis and linkage to care rates among people who use drugs through a patient-centered program from Italy.

Background: Rates of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and diagnosis are variable among people who use drugs (PWUD). In Puglia in 2018, of 871 subjects screened, 38% had HCV antibodies (HCVAb). Despite sustained virologic response at week 12 Sustained virologic response (SVR12) rates >95%, addiction centers in Italy are not allowed to prescribe direct-acting antivirals (DAA).

Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) daily dose versus IFN alpha plus ribavirin for treatment-naive chronic hepatitis c patients infected by genotype 1b.

Introduction: Infection with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b (HCV1b) is known to be a predictive factor of poor response to both interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) alone and IFN alpha plus ribavirin combination therapy.STUDY DESIGN, PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomised study evaluated the efficacy and safety of daily IFN alpha administration versus the combination of IFN alpha plus ribavirin in treatment-naive patients infected with chronic HCV1b. Sixty-two patients were randomised to receive either human leucocyte IFN alpha 6MU three times weekly for 12 months plus ribavirin 15 mg/kg/day for the first 6 months (group A: 29 patients), or human leucocyte IFN alpha 3MU daily for 12 months (group B: 33 patients).