Study on Incidence of Hep C in Suburban Drug Users

Dr. Ronald Nahass, the president of ID Care, New Jersey’s largest infectious disease practice, recently presented the conclusions drawn in a study on the incidence of Hepatitis C (HCV) in suburban drug users in New Jersey. The presentation was made at the national meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the HIV Medicine Association.

Hepatitis C is a curable disease caused by a virus that infects the liver. The virus, HCV, can cause lifelong infection, fibrosis (mild to moderate liver scarring), cirrhosis (serious liver scarring), liver cancer, liver failure, and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are at least 3.2 million people in the United States with chronic HCV infection. Worldwide, it is estimated that up to 150 million people are living with HCV.

Young suburban heroin users have been described as the second wave of HCV in various regions of the United States. The objective of the referenced study was to characterize the HCV epidemic in suburban New Jersey heroin users; identify the prevalence and frequency of acute infection; determine the cure rate: and match the frequency of Hepatitis C to the distribution of heroin use.

The study was carried out at Princeton House, a behavioral health unit of the University Medical Center at Princeton. Dr. Nahass collaborated with Drs. Mark Schwartz and Neal Shofield of Princeton House in the study. In the study, 44% of patients (376 of 861) admitted for treatment were positive for Hepatitis C with 63% (237 of 376) under 35 years of age.

Though none of the patients were co-infected with HIV, the concern was raised about the possibility of the rapid spread of HIV if the virus were to be introduced into this group. This concern and a history of poor follow-up in this patient cohort is resulting in further study to identify factors which can help young patients with HCV obtain treatment. By treating patients with this now curable infection, Dr. Nahass and his colleagues hope to slow the spread of the infection.

The conclusions drawn by the investigators included: NJ is part of the second wave of HCV; GT 3 is disproportionately represented (there are 6 strains of HCV - genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - with patients in the US not expected to experience a high level of genotype 3); HIV is not present in a population with a high percentage of IV drug users; a recent spread of HIV in young heroin users in Indiana sparked the current concern; treatment in the less than 35 cohort has been difficult to complete.

Dr. Nahass and ID Care physicians and staff have performed more than 30 clinical trials for new medical treatments of Hepatitis C for Gilead, Merck, Abbvie, and Bristol Meyers Squibb. Prior to the work with Hepatitis C, ID Care had performed more than 80 studies for HIV medications, many of which are now on the market.

For information on the services offered by ID CARE, log onto www.idcare.com or call 908-281-0890.

Members of the media interested in interviewing a local infectious disease physician should call Rich Reitman at 908-526-1390.

About ID CARE:

ID CARE is the most comprehensive group of Infectious Disease specialists in the State of New Jersey and the second largest of its kind in the country, with 32 Board Certified physicians and medical staff participation in over 100 medical facilities in Northern and Central New Jersey.

The medical staff provides management and care of patients with all infections including sepsis, Lyme Disease, cellulitis, viral hepatitis, HIV, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, post-surgical infections, slow healing wounds, fever, among others. Its travel service provides comprehensive travel medicine including medical consultation, vaccinations,

ID CARE’s offices are located at: 105 Raider Boulevard in Hillsborough, 81 Veronica Avenue in Somerset, 765 Route 10 East in Randolph, 8 Saddle Road in Cedar Knolls, 3 Hospital Plaza in Old Bridge, 2035 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne, 2 Capital Way in Pennington, 1912 State Route 35 South, Oakhurst, and 10 Forrestal Road South in Princeton. The team of 34 physicians is affiliated with twenty-one additional hospitals and medical centers across north and central New Jersey.

ID CARE offers on-site infusion services at the Hillsborough and Randolph locations as an alternative to intravenous therapy in hospitals. Infusion services will be available at the Oakhurst office during 2016. ID CARE also provides comprehensive travel medicine including: medical consultation, vaccinations, precautionary advice, and healthcare supplies for international travelers.