Urgent action needed to stop spread of hepatitis B and C in Estonian drug users

Tefanova, Valentina; Tallo, Tatjana; Kutsar, K.; Priimgi, L

doi:10.2807/esw.11.04.02883-en

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Indeed, with a few exceptions [140], HCV transmission among IDUs remains uncontrolled, with prevalence increasing among young IDUs, and incidence rates ranging between 11 and 42 per 100 person/years [120,132,141,142]. The worst situation is in Eastern Europe where the dramatic IDU-related HCV epidemic started in the early 1990s and harm reduction interventions remain limited [22][23][24]131,[143][144][145][146].…”

Section: Injection Drug Use As the Core Of The Hcv Epidemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Europe

Esteban

Sauleda

Quer

2008

Journal of Hepatology

394

307

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Section: Injection Drug Use As the Core Of The Hcv Epidemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Europe

Esteban

Sauleda

Quer

2008

Journal of Hepatology

394

307

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“…In different European countries the prevalence of HCV ranges between 0.1and 5% (4,5). According to an educated guess, up to 1% of 1.34 mln of Estonian inhabitants are infected with HCV, and this virus was reported as the main aetiological agent for chronic hepatitis in Estonian patients (6,7).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of Peginterferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Treatment-naive Estonian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Brjalin

Salupere²,

Tallo³

et al. 2012

Cent Eur J Public Health

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Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) α-2a and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy in treatmentnaive patients with chronic hepatitis C in Estonia. Methods: Out of 121 outpatients with chronic hepatitis C (73 males, 48 females, aged 19−63) enrolled in the study, 76 were infected with HCV genotype 1b and 45 with genotype 3a. At baseline, the viral load in 75.2% of patients was higher than 600,000 IU/mL. Histologically, 88.4% of patients had fibrosis score F0−2. Patients received 180 μg of Peg-IFN α-2a weekly plus daily ribavirin 1,000 or 1,200 mg, depending on body weight, in HCV genotype 1b, or 800 mg/day in genotype 3a infection. Results: The overall sustained virologic response (SVR) rate in our study was 60.3%, being statistically lower for patients with HCV genotype 1b as compared to patients with genotype 3a (46.1% vs. 84.4%, p<0.05). The non-response and relapse rates were significantly higher in patients infected with HCV genotype 1b compared with patients infected with genotype 3a (19.7% vs. 2.2%, p=0.01; and 17.1% vs. 4.4%, p=0.04; respectively). The SVR rate was higher in patients younger than 40 years compared with older patients (76.4% vs. 47.0%, p<0.01), regardless of the genotype. Thirteen patients infected with HCV genotype 1b required dose reduction of PegIFN and/or RBV because of adverse side effects. Nine of them achieved SVR. Conclusion: HCV genotype and age younger than 40 years predetermined SVR rate in treatment-naive Estonian patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with Peg-IFN α-2a plus ribavirin.

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“…The first reports describing IDU outbreak and the growing size of IDU population in Estonia are based on field reports and expert opinions (21). In addition, growing drug use accompanied by the markedly increased numbers of patients treated for psychiatric and behavioural disorders caused by the use of illegal drugs, has more than tripled during the 1990s (from 24.5/100,000 in 1995 to 82.2/100,000 in 1998) (24), as well as the number of patients admitted for use of illicit opioids and alcohol during the early part of past decade (25) (19,26).…”

Section: Fig 1 Incidence Of Hbv and Hcv Infection And Absolute Numbmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Trends and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Occurrence in Estonia

Paat¹,

Uusküla²,

Tefanova³

et al. 2009

Cent Eur J Public Health

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SUMMARYHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is prevalent worldwide and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. This article describes the trend in HBV occurrence in Estonia from 1990 to 2005 in Estonia, with the aim of highlighting key determinants in transmission dynamics, risk groups, and possible implications for prevention and control.A marked increase in reported numbers of new HBV cases occurred in mid 1990s (reaching 39 per 100,000 population) and decline thereafter. We present data on HBV prevalence from different population groups (persons with verified sexually transmitted infection, prisoners, medical personnel, blood donors and injection drug users). Special vaccination programmes introduced in Estonia have been successful in the prevention of HBV, however, we suggest that the main risk groups such as injection drug users (IDUs), men having sex with men (MSM) and HIV infected persons should be actively encompassed into HBV vaccination programme.

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Urgent action needed to stop spread of hepatitis B and C in Estonian drug users

Abstract: In 1996, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections began to spread rapidly in northeastern Estonia

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Europe

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Europe

Efficacy of Peginterferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Treatment-naive Estonian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

The Trends and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Occurrence in Estonia

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