Garten RJ, Lai SH, Zhang JB, Liu W, Chen J, Yu XF. Factors influencing a low rate of hepatitis C viral RNA clearance in heroin users from Southern China. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(12): 1878-1884 [PMID: 18350626 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.1878]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Xiao-Fang Yu, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Room E5148, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. xfyu@jhsph.edu
Article-Type of This Article
Rapid Communication
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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Rebecca J Garten, Xiao-Fang Yu, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
Sheng-Han Lai, Jin-Bing Zhang, Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
Wei Liu, Jie Chen, Guangxi Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Author contributions: Garten RJ, Lai SH, Liu W, Chen J, and Yu XF designed research; Garten RJ, Zhang JB, Lai SH, Liu W, Chen J, and Yu XF performed research; Garten RJ, Lai SH, Liu W, Chen J, and Yu XF analyzed data; and Garten RJ, Lai SH, and Yu XF wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Fang Yu, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Room E5148, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. xfyu@jhsph.edu
Telephone: +1-410-9553768
Fax: +1-410-9550105
Received: January 11, 2007 Revised: February 5, 2008 Published online: March 28, 2008
Abstract
AIM: To study the virological and host factors influencing hepatitis C infection outcomes in heroin users in southern China.
METHODS: HCV RNA and associated factors were analyzed among 347 heroin users from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China who were hepatitis C virus (HCV) EIA positive for two or more consecutive visits.
RESULTS: Using the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV TEST, a remarkably low HCV RNA negative rate of 8.6% was detected. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, HCV RNA clearance was significantly associated with the presence of HBsAg (OR = 8.436, P < 0.0001), the lack of HIV-1 infection (OR = 0.256, P = 0.038) and age younger than 25 (OR = 0.400, P = 0.029).
CONCLUSION: Our study suggests HCV infection among Chinese heroin users results in high levels of viral persistence even amidst factors previously found to enhance viral clearance. Prospective studies of a possible genetic component within the Chinese population and the pathogenicity of non-genotype 1 HCV infections are needed.
