VIDEO: PWIDs engaged in HCV treatment can achieve SVR

Using two methods of engagement – with methadone treatment or in a navigation setting – researchers at The Digital Liver Meeting Experience showed people who inject drugs can achieve viral response in hepatitis C virus.

“Incidence HCV infection is a real challenge and risk for many countries and states in the United States being able to meet WHO goals for HCV elimination,” Susanna Naggie, MD, from Duke University, said in an interview with Healio. “This does show us there are ways that we can engage people who inject drugs and get through treatment.”

Comparing supervised treatment during methadone treatment to a patient navigation path of care, the researchers showed that sustained virologic response was about the same for each arm with differences seen between groups.

“We need to have validation of these different strategies before we could be comfortable with that approach,” Naggie said.