2024
The cascade of care for commercially-insured persons with opioid use disorder and comorbid HIV and HCV infections
Ivasiy R, Madden L, DiDomizio E, Johnson K, Machavariani E, Ahmad B, Oliveros D, Ram A, Kil N, Altice F. The cascade of care for commercially-insured persons with opioid use disorder and comorbid HIV and HCV infections. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 263: 112410. PMID: 39159600, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid use disorderXR-NTXUse disorderHCV infectionPrescribed MOUDOpioid use disorder cascadePrevalence of opioid use disorderRetrospective cohort studyHigher treatment retentionCascade of careConcurrent infectious diseasesSix-month retentionHCV/HIV coinfectionComorbid HIVCohort studyHospital-based settingPrescribed methadoneHCVMOUD initiationHIVHCV epidemicOpioidMethadoneMOUD prescriptionsTreatment retention
2023
1901. High Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in a Malaysian Prison
Zhang L, Shenoi S, Kamarulzaman A, Dhaliwal S, Ahmad A, Altice F. 1901. High Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in a Malaysian Prison. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.1729. PMCID: PMC10677608, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.1729.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLatent tuberculosis infectionPrevalence of LTBIRisk of LTBITB preventive therapyIndependent risk factorTuberculin skin testC-reactive proteinActive TBPreventive therapyTuberculosis infectionRisk factorsHigh prevalenceMultivariable logistic regressionOpioid use disorderRisk of hepatotoxicityChest X-rayDrug use historyPaucity of dataLTBI treatmentHCV infectionHepatitis CHepatitis BMedian ageBlood testsSkin testModelling the impact and cost‐effectiveness of non‐governmental organizations on HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Stone J, Trickey A, Walker J, Bivegete S, Semchuk N, Sazonova Y, Varetska O, Altice F, Saliuk T, Vickerman P. Modelling the impact and cost‐effectiveness of non‐governmental organizations on HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2023, 26: e26073. PMID: 37012669, PMCID: PMC10070931, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyHepatitis C virusHCV incidenceHCV infectionHIV/HCV testingHIV/HCV infectionHCV transmission modelNeedles/syringesHCV testingHCV eliminationHCV transmissionAgonist treatmentC virusNew HIVHigh prevalencePWIDHIVCondom useSubstantial detrimental impactInfectionIncidencePreventative impactDrugsCoverage levelsDALYs
2022
Reinfection and Risk Behaviors After Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy : A Cohort Study.
Grebely J, Dore GJ, Altice FL, Conway B, Litwin AH, Norton BL, Dalgard O, Gane EJ, Shibolet O, Nahass R, Luetkemeyer AF, Peng CY, Iser D, Gendrano IN, Kelly MM, Hwang P, Asante-Appiah E, Haber BA, Barr E, Robertson MN, Platt H. Reinfection and Risk Behaviors After Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy : A Cohort Study. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2022, 175: 1221-1229. PMID: 35939812, DOI: 10.7326/m21-4119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyLong-term extension studyHCV reinfectionDrug useExtension studyAgonist therapySuccessful treatmentHepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfectionHepatitis C virus infectionBenefits of cureC virus infectionChronic HCV infectionRate of reinfectionUrine drug screeningOngoing drug useClinical trial sitesSubsidiary of MerckHCV infectionCohort studyVirus reinfectionDohme Corp.Treatment completionGenotype 1Virus infectionHigh riskHealth-related quality of life in people receiving opioid agonist treatment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection
Dalgard O, Litwin AH, Shibolet O, Grebely J, Nahass R, Altice FL, Conway B, Gane EJ, Luetkemeyer AF, Peng CY, Iser D, Gendrano IN, Kelly MM, Haber BA, Platt H, Puenpatom A. Health-related quality of life in people receiving opioid agonist treatment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection. Journal Of Addictive Diseases 2022, 41: 213-224. PMID: 35920743, DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2088978.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsElbasvir/grazoprevirHepatitis C virus infectionC virus infectionOpioid agonist therapyHealth-related qualityEnd of treatmentHCV infectionAgonist therapyVirus infectionChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionImproved health-related qualityMental component summary scoresTreatment week 4Placebo-controlled studyOpioid agonist treatmentMedical Outcomes StudyComponent summary scoresSF-36v2 scoresTreatment differencesImproved HRQOLViral eradicationActing antiviralsOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentGeneral health
2021
Treatment of Hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs at a syringe service program during the COVID-19 response: The potential role of telehealth, medications for opioid use disorder and minimal demands on patients
Sivakumar A, Madden L, DiDomizio E, Eller A, Villanueva M, Altice FL. Treatment of Hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs at a syringe service program during the COVID-19 response: The potential role of telehealth, medications for opioid use disorder and minimal demands on patients. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 101: 103570. PMID: 34954493, PMCID: PMC8685180, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103570.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderHepatitis C virusSyringe services programDifferentiated care modelPerson visitsC virusCare modelUse disordersInitiation of DAAChronic HCV infectionEvidence-based treatmentsCOVID-19Initial phlebotomyVirological responseHCV infectionHCV treatmentAdditional patientsElevated riskPatientsClient-centred approachPWIDHIVPerson contactTreatment demandLaboratory screening
2018
Estimating HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 5 Ukrainian cities using stratification-based respondent driven and random sampling
Zelenev A, Shea P, Mazhnaya A, Meteliuk A, Pykalo I, Marcus R, Fomenko T, Prokhorova T, Altice FL. Estimating HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 5 Ukrainian cities using stratification-based respondent driven and random sampling. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2018, 67: 91-101. PMID: 30503695, PMCID: PMC6537868, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.09.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHCV prevalenceHIV prevalenceHCV prevalence estimatesHigh HCV prevalencePrevalence of HIVCross-sectional studyLow-resource settingsInverse probability weightsHCV antibodiesHCV infectionTreatment strategiesHIVTreatment prioritiesPrevalence estimatesHealth outcomesBetter preventionPrevalenceLocal epidemicsHCVPWIDOverall sampleSelection biasPreventionProbability weightsRegular basisHepatitis C virus status awareness and test results confirmation among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Iakunchykova O, Meteliuk A, Zelenev A, Mazhnaya A, Tracy M, Altice FL. Hepatitis C virus status awareness and test results confirmation among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2018, 57: 11-17. PMID: 29655101, PMCID: PMC5994183, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.03.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-HCV testIndependent correlatesHCV testingPositive statusAnti-HCV positive statusAnti-HCV positivityHCV treatment cascadeHCV-positive statusOpioid-dependent PWIDRegular HCV testingHIV-negative participantsPositive test resultsChronic HCVHCV prevalenceStatus awarenessHCV infectionHCV preventionTreatment cascadeTreatment strategiesTreatment utilizationNegative participantsPWIDTreatment experienceHCVConfirmatory testingLinkage and retention in HCV care for HIV‐infected populations: early data from the DAA era
Sacks‐Davis R, Doyle JS, Rauch A, Beguelin C, Pedrana AE, Matthews GV, Prins M, van der Valk M, Klein MB, Saeed S, Lacombe K, Chkhartishvili N, Altice FL, Hellard ME. Linkage and retention in HCV care for HIV‐infected populations: early data from the DAA era. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2018, 21: e25051. PMID: 29633559, PMCID: PMC5978682, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25051.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCo-infected populationHIV co-infected populationElimination initiativeHCV eliminationHIV/HCV co-infected populationCare dataHCV treatment uptakeSustained virological responseHalf of patientsDAA eraDAA treatmentHCV careSVR ratesVirological responseHCV infectionHCV treatmentHCV RNAImplementation science frameworkTreatment uptakeHigh-income countriesHIVIntervention characteristicsTreatment availabilityDiagnosis rateElimination program
2016
Elbasvir-Grazoprevir to Treat Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy: A Randomized Trial.
Dore GJ, Altice F, Litwin AH, Dalgard O, Gane EJ, Shibolet O, Luetkemeyer A, Nahass R, Peng CY, Conway B, Grebely J, Howe AY, Gendrano IN, Chen E, Huang HC, Dutko FJ, Nickle DC, Nguyen BY, Wahl J, Barr E, Robertson MN, Platt HL. Elbasvir-Grazoprevir to Treat Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy: A Randomized Trial. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2016, 165: 625-634. PMID: 27537841, DOI: 10.7326/m16-0816.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAntiviral AgentsBenzofuransBuprenorphineBuprenorphine, Naloxone Drug CombinationDouble-Blind MethodDrug CombinationsDrug Resistance, ViralFemaleGenotypeHepatitis C, ChronicHumansImidazolesMaleMedication AdherenceMethadoneMiddle AgedOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersQuinoxalinesRecurrenceSubstance Abuse, IntravenousYoung AdultConceptsDeferred-treatment groupOpioid agonist therapyImmediate treatment groupHepatitis C virus infectionC virus infectionElbasvir-grazoprevirDrug useProbable reinfectionAgonist therapyHCV infectionViral recurrenceAdverse eventsVirus infectionChronic HCV genotype 1Double-blind trialGenotype 3 infectionTreatment-naive patientsHCV genotype 1Interferon-free HCV treatmentOngoing drug useVirologic responseHCV therapyHCV treatmentPrimary outcomeGenotype 1
2014
An evaluation of hepatic enzyme elevations among HIV-infected released prisoners enrolled in two randomized placebo-controlled trials of extended release naltrexone
Vagenas P, Di Paola A, Herme M, Lincoln T, Skiest DJ, Altice FL, Springer SA. An evaluation of hepatic enzyme elevations among HIV-infected released prisoners enrolled in two randomized placebo-controlled trials of extended release naltrexone. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2014, 47: 35-40. PMID: 24674234, PMCID: PMC4042403, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.02.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPlacebo-controlled trialXR-NTXGamma-glutamyl transferaseAlanine aminotransferaseMental illnessAspartate aminotransferaseRandomized placebo-controlled trialMonthly injectable formulationXR-NTX armExtended-release naltrexoneHepatic enzyme elevationHepatic enzyme levelsRelease naltrexoneAntiretroviral therapyHCV infectionBaseline characteristicsHepatic transaminasesEnzyme elevationPsychiatric medicationsHepatotoxicity concernsGlutamyl transferaseAlcohol dependenceOpioidsHIVNaltrexone
2013
The Burgeoning HIV/HCV Syndemic in the Urban Northeast: HCV, HIV, and HIV/HCV Coinfection in an Urban Setting
Morano JP, Gibson BA, Altice FL. The Burgeoning HIV/HCV Syndemic in the Urban Northeast: HCV, HIV, and HIV/HCV Coinfection in an Urban Setting. PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e64321. PMID: 23691197, PMCID: PMC3653872, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064321.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV/HCV coinfectionHCV coinfectionHIV monoinfectionTransmission risk behaviorsCross-sectional studyMobile medical clinicViral infection statusCrack cocaine useHCV monoinfectionHCV infectionIndependent correlatesCoinfection statusLifetime HIVClinical careHCVHIVMonoinfectionElectronic databasesDisease preventionCocaine useMedical clinicsRisk behaviorsGallery useInfection statusCoinfectionIntegrating buprenorphine maintenance therapy into federally qualified health centers: Real-world substance abuse treatment outcomes
Haddad MS, Zelenev A, Altice FL. Integrating buprenorphine maintenance therapy into federally qualified health centers: Real-world substance abuse treatment outcomes. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2013, 131: 127-135. PMID: 23332439, PMCID: PMC3674170, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.12.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsQualified health centersSubstance abuse counselingHealth centersBuprenorphine maintenance treatment programCocaine useBuprenorphine maintenance therapyConcomitant cocaine useOpioid-dependent patientsMaintenance treatment programReal-world effectivenessSubstance abuse treatment outcomesElectronic health recordsHCV infectionMaintenance therapyPsychiatric comorbidityMean ageDependent patientsPsychiatric medicationsClinical trialsTreatment outcomesMood disordersFamily practitionersMore weeksTreatment programBMT
2008
Clinical Outcomes of Hepatitis C Treatment in a Prison Setting: Feasibility and Effectiveness for Challenging Treatment Populations
Maru DS, Bruce RD, Basu S, Altice FL. Clinical Outcomes of Hepatitis C Treatment in a Prison Setting: Feasibility and Effectiveness for Challenging Treatment Populations. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008, 47: 952-961. PMID: 18715156, PMCID: PMC4847716, DOI: 10.1086/591707.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSustained virological responseRate of prescriptionVirological responsePEG-RBVBaseline HCV RNA levelHepatic C virus infectionHCV genotype 1 infectionBaseline major depressionC virus infectionChronic HCV infectionHCV RNA levelsTreatment-naive patientsGenotype 1 infectionHepatitis C treatmentOutcome of treatmentUse of medicationsNewer mood stabilizersHCV infectionHIV infectionClinical outcomesMood stabilizersAntipsychotic medicationBlack raceClinical effectivenessMajor depression
2007
Case Series on the Safe Use of Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Individuals with Acute Hepatitis C Infection and Abnormal Hepatic Liver Transaminases
Bruce RD, Altice FL. Case Series on the Safe Use of Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Individuals with Acute Hepatitis C Infection and Abnormal Hepatic Liver Transaminases. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2007, 33: 869-874. PMID: 17994482, DOI: 10.1080/00952990701653875.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusAcute hepatitis C infectionHepatitis C infectionBuprenorphine treatmentC infectionChronic viral illnessesSafety of buprenorphineAcute HCV infectionBuprenorphine/naloxoneOpiate substitution therapyOpioid-dependent patientsOpiate substitution treatmentLaboratory evaluationChronic hepatitisElevated transaminasesHCV infectionLiver transaminasesViral illnessCase seriesSubstitution therapyC virusSubstitution treatmentBuprenorphinePatientsTransaminase