To the Editor: Davis and colleagues recently described outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the Northern Territory who received antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.1 They showed similar outcomes when comparing eight Indigenous people with 88 non-Indigenous people who were assessed for sustained virological response (SVR) after interferon-based treatment — SVR was achieved by 50% and 61%, respectively. Outcomes of therapy for HCV infection in Indigenous Australians had not previously been reported.
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- 1. Davis JS, Kulatunga AC, Hajkowicz K. Outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients who access treatment for hepatitis C in the Top End of the Northern Territory [letter]. Med J Aust 2013; 199: 23. <MJA full text>
- 2. Boonwaat L, Haber PS, Levy MH, Lloyd AR. Establishment of a successful assessment and treatment service for Australian prison inmates with chronic hepatitis C. Med J Aust 2010; 192: 496-500. <MJA full text>
- 3. Lloyd AR, Clegg J, Lange J, et al. Safety and effectiveness of a nurse-led outreach program for assessment and treatment of chronic hepatitis C in the custodial setting. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 56: 1078-1084.
- 4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Prisoners in Australia. Canberra: ABS, 2013. (ABS Cat. No. 4517.0.) http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4517.02012?Open Document (accessed Jul 2013).
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