Addressing low treatment rates of chronic hepatitis C in injecting drug users

Addressing low treatment rates of chronic hepatitis C in injecting drug users: Why do injecting drug users not engage in treatment, what are the health and social benefits for those who do engage in treatment, and does nurse led initiation of antiviral therapy increase the proportion accepting and completing treatment?

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN07774040

Enrollment

402

Registered

2014-06-19

Start date

2011-04-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2017-04-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hepatitis C virus treatment Infections and Infestations Acute hepatitis C

Interventions

Nurse-led initiation of standard antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus in nurse-led outreach clinics

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive (as shown by a positive HCV RNA level) 2. Attending Specialist Addiction Services in the boroughs of Hackney, Newham or Tower Hamlets in London

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. A negative test for HCV infection 2. People who are not registered with specialist addiction services 3. Those who have evidence of any of the following: 4. Cirrhosis of the liver - blood test, imaging or liver biopsy evidence 5. Anaemia (low red cells) Haemoglobin <12 6. Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) <150 7. Lymphopenia (low white cells) < 3 8. Active infection of any kind 9. Serious psychiatric disorders in the last two years 4. Uncontrolled asthma 5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6. Ischaemic heart disease, or severe cardiac disease including ventricular arrhythmias, angina and heart failure, renal failure, autoimmune disease

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Number of patients who achieve a sustained viral response 2. Number of patients who are compliant with treatment 3. Number of patients who start and finish treatment	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Change in alcohol and drug use of participants	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 11, 2026