Effect Of Methadone Or Naltrexone In The Course Of Transaminases In Parenteral Drug Users With Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Influence of methadone or naltrexone therapy on the course of transaminases in PDA patients infected with HCV


J. L. Lozano Polo, E. Gutierrez Mora*, V.Martinez Perez**, J. Santamaria Gutierrez**, J. Vada Sanchez and J. A. Vallejo Correas***

Internal Medicine. Hospital Santa Cruz de Liencres. *Drugs RehabilitationCentre of Loredo, **Santander and ***Torrelavega.
Regional Plan about Drugs. Regional Deputy of Cantabria.


A prospective study was conducted on theevolution of serum transaminases in 116 patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), parenteral drug abusers, included for 6 months in treatment programs withmethadone, naltrexone or "drug free" regimen. Treatment with methadone or naltrexone did not result in a transaminase increase in these patients. In contrast, patientsincluded in the drug-free program appear to have a higher increase in serum transaminase levels than those treated with methadone or naltrexone (146.1 +/- 122.29 vs91.88 +/- 81.96 and 86.99 +/- 64.26 UL/ml respectively). Such an increase originated mainly from patients who anytime during follow-up had a liver necrosis outbreakin the acute hepatitis range, and is offset if, instead of a given transaminase value, we consider a simplified liver necrosis index (1.28 +/- 0.74 vs 0.95 +/-0.72 and 1.01 +/- 0.65, respectively; p > 0.05). HIV infected patients have serum transaminase values similar to those in HIV-negative patients (80.61 +/- 58.81 vs113.63 +/- 99.59, respectively; p > 0.05).

KEY WORDS: hepatitis C, transaminases, drug abuse, methadone, naltrexone, HIV.

(Rev Clin Esp. 1997 Jul;197(7):479-83)