Early decline in an epidemic: evolution of the prevalences of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and aminotransferases in intravenous drug abusers in Strasbourg between 1980 and 1990
Will, T.
Revue Medicale de la Suisse Romande 119(4): 329-334
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3655 PMID: 10361471 Document Number: 500405
In order to study the prevalence of hepatitis B and C as well as HIV virus and disruptive factors of aminotransferase enzyme among intravenous drug users. We conducted retrospective study of 169 patients who were hospitalised in a clinic where they were weaned from drug use between 1980 and 1990. The prevalence of HIV is 13.2%, and that of hepatitis B is 67.5%. When comparing the years 1980-1987 and 1987-1990, we noticed that the prevalence of HIV drops from 25.9% to 7.8% (p = 0.006), and that of hepatitis B from 75.9% to 60% (p = 0.027). Since November 1989, we were able to detect hepatitis C virus on a regular basis, and it showed a prevalence of 67.4%. The prevalence of aminotransferase enzyme disorders is 52.7%. We compare these results with those of other material on the same subject and we discuss various ideas to explain the unexpected decrease of HIV prevalence.