Reinfection and Long Term Outcomes in Intravenous Drug Users (IVDUs) After Hepatitis C Treatment

Summary

The investigators will identify possible participants using our database of previously treated hepatitis c patients. The investigators will identify those who have documented evidence of current injecting drug use as a risk factor for acquisition of the virus. The investigators will then search for those who have received curative treatment between 2004-2010. This covers all patients in the current database. The investigators will include those over 18 years old. The investigators will exclude those patients who are coinfected with either hepatitis B or HIV. This is because both of these conditions can accelerate liver damage when in combination with hepatitis c.

The possible participants identified will be sent an information sheet giving a simple and clear outline of the proposed research. The investigator will try to obtain an au to date residential address from the PAS system in the NHS or through confirmation from the patients GP or drug worker. It will explain the purpose of the study, why they have been chosen, what taking part will involve, the potential advantages and disadvantages of taking part and that everything will be kept confidential. It will also outline who is conducting the study, how any expenses will be paid and contact details for any problems/complaints that arise.

Those interested in taking part will attend an appointment at the hospital after they have had the opportunity to read through the information leaflet. They will be given time to ask any questions they have about the study and have them answered fully. They will then be asked to sign two copies of a consent form in order to take their participation any further. Once this is complete they can have their first 'liver assessment'. The assessment will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.

The investigators will take three blood samples from them (approximately 10mls of blood or 4 teaspoons full). One sample is to measure the levels of hepatitis C virus in the blood. This will tell us whether there has been reinfection with hepatitis C. The second sample is to measure the levels of inflammation within the liver and the third sample is to measure the full blood count. The investigators will then perform a liver scan called a fibroscan. This is a noninvasive test similar to an ultrasound (that pregnant women have) and gives a reading that can tell us about any 'stiffness' in the liver. It takes approximately five to ten minutes to complete and involves the patient lying on their back with their right arm above their head for the duration of the scan. Following the scan the investigators will ask the participant to complete a short questionnaire. This will include questions about past and current drug use as well as any alcohol use. The answers will be kept strictly confidential. They will be stored in the researchers locked office and have no direct participant identifiers on them. They will simply have a study number on them.The participant will then be thanked for their time and offered £30 to cover all travel and time expenses for their visit.

They will be invited to attend for a further liver assessment one year after their first one and annually thereafter. This is optional and they are of course free to withdraw from the study at any time without needing to give a reason.

The investigators will be identifying participants at different points in time following their curative treatment. For example some will have been cured 5 year ago whereas other will have been cured 6-12 months ago. This will increase the number of patient years follow up. Once the investigators have done the first set of liver assessment the participants will then be followed prospectively for as long as they wish to participate.

For the purpose of my higher degree I will present the data I have following two years of 'liver assessments'.

Conditions

• Hepatitis C

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Roche Pharma AG

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Joanne M Baxter, MBChB · North Manchester General Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-05-31

Primary Completion

2013-05-31

Completion

2014-06-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations