Treating HCV in PWID: Best Practices

Volume 7, Issue 4

Treating HCV in PWID: Best Practices

In this issue:

Hepatitis C has become “curable” for >90% of those infected. But while universal HCV elimination is medically possible, this goal is compromised by certain populations who remain underscreened, undertreated, and underserved and continue to spread the virus. One such population is people who inject drugs (PWID).

In this issue, Dr. Brianna Norton and Dr. Matthew Akiyama from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine analyze the most important data to explain how substance use impacts adherence and the risk of HCV reinfection.

Learning objectives:

Describe best practices for treating HCV among PWID.
Explain the impact of injection drug use on adherence, on cure rates, and on the risk of reinfection after successful HCV therapy.

Authors:

Brianna Norton, DO, MPH

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Matthew Akiyama, MD, MSc

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Guest Faculty Disclosures

Both Dr. Norton and Dr. Akiyama have disclosed that they have no relationship with any product or service relevant to the content of this program.

Unlabeled/Unapproved Uses

Dr. Norton and Dr. Akiyama have both indicated that they will not mention the unlabeled or unapproved use of any drugs or products in today's discussion.

Program Directors:

Mark S. Sulkowski, MD

Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Medical Director, Viral Hepatitis Center
Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland

Raymond T. Chung, MD

Director of Hepatology and Liver Center
Vice Chief, Gastroenterology
Kevin and Polly Maroni Research Scholar
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts

Taryn Haselhuhn, BA, BSN, MSN, CRNP

The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland

Guest Faculty Disclosures:

Both Dr. Norton and Dr. Akiyama have disclosed that they have no relationship with any product or service relevant to the content of this program.

Unlabeled/Unapproved Uses:

Dr. Norton and Dr. Akiyama have both indicated that they will not mention the unlabeled or unapproved use of any drugs or products in today's discussion.

Length of activity:

0.5 hour Physicians
0.5 contact hour Nurses

Launch date: April 1, 2020
Expiration date: March 31, 2022

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