Theme: Clinical Research Year: 2019
Background: Concerns about reinfection may be limiting HCV treatment uptake among people who
inject drugs (PWID), with rates approaching 20/100 person-years reported in some cohorts. Developing
a strategy to reduce risks of reinfection may enhance treatment uptake in this priority population,
particularly from the perspective of governmental authorities funding such programs.
Methods: We identified a cohort of PWID treated with direct-acting antivirals at our centre. Following
cure, patients were maintained in long-term follow-up in a multidisciplinary program to address their
medical, psychologic, social, and addiction-related needs. HCV RNA measurements were repeated every
6 months, and ongoing risk behaviors for HCV transmission were documented. The primary outcome of
this analysis was the occurrence of reinfection.
Results: 243 PWID have achieved SVR and maintained in long-term follow-up. Key characteristics: mean
age 53 years, 25% female, 78% treatment naïve, 17% cirrhotic, 63% genotype 1. Current injection drug
use was documented in 195 individuals. The median duration of follow-up is 714 days (range 134-1841)
days, with 86% followed >1 year. Reinfection was observed in 4 cases (1.7% of the treated cohort, 2% of
the confirmed active PWID cohort), all reinfection cases among the latter cohort. Based on 474 personyears of follow up, this represents a reinfection rate of 0.84/100 person-years. In the confirmed active
PWID cohort, in 379 PY, the rate it 1.05/100 PYs. Those who presented with reinfection were younger
(mean age 47) and more often male, with no other distinguishing characteristics.
Conclusion: In a population with significant ongoing risk of reinfection, we only documented this in
1.7% of cases. Approaches including long-term maintenance in multidisciplinary care, as well as
programming which addresses upstream determinants of health, such as food security and housing
(included in our program), may optimize long-term outcomes of HCV treatment in PWID by significantly
reducing the rate of reinfection.
Disclosures:
JH – Travel grants from AbbVie
TM – Nothing to disclose
AT – Travel grants from AbbVie
DT – Honoraria from Merck & Co.
LC – Nothing to disclose
RY – Nothing to disclose
BC – Grants, honoraria, travel funding, and advisory board positions with AbbVie, Merck & Co, Gilead
Sciences, and ViiV