The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Iriszorg is further experimenting with a voucher system to support hepatitis C patients infinishing their hepatitis C treatment.Other activitiesThere are several activities ongoing which are not restricted to drug users but open forall patients with hepatitis. A complete description of these activities is beyond the scopeof this report, therefore only a selection is presented here. The list aims to show thatthere is increasing attention for hepatitis in the Netherlands. In the first half of 2010, there are several clinical studies ongoing regarding treatmentoptions for patients with hepatitis B or C (source: National Hepatitis Centre):o ARES study (ErasmusMC Rotterdam and AMC Amsterdam): studying the effect ofentecavir plus temporary peginterferon (compared to entecavir alone) on the durationof sustained viral suppression in patients with chronic hepatitis Bo Tenofovir study (ErasmusMC Rotterdam): studying the effect of treatment with tenofoviron the defense mechanism in chronic hepatitis B patientso PADD study (ErasmusMC): studies whether the addition of peginterferon to theusual treatment with virus inhibitors gives a permanent suppression of the hepatitisB virus, even after discontinuation of treatmento VIRID study (ErasmusMC and UMC Radboud Nijmegen): compares the effect of adouble dosage of ribavirine with standard treatment in patients with hepatitis C genotypes1 and 4 (which have lower treatment results than genotypes 2 and 3).o ENABLE study (ErasmusMC, AMC, VUmc Amsterdam): studies the effect of eltrombopagin HCV patients with a low level of platelets (a sign of serious liver damage)to increase the platelet count and subsequently start standard treatment.o NS5A inhibitor study (AMC), a placebo controlled study in which the effect of NS5Ainhibitor on the replication of HCV (genotype 1B) is assessed. Every year, the National Hepatitis Centre organizes a national hepatitis week. In January2010, the sixth event took place, with the central theme “medical and social aspectsof hepatitis”, handling the long duration and resulting social burden of treatment.The week is targeted both at professionals and patients. In June 2010, the Federation of Medical Scientific Associations (in Dutch: FMWV), aninterdisciplinary collaboration of medical-scientific and health care researchers, organisedtheir yearly Scientific Day around the theme: “Hepatitis: new knowledge, newopportunities”. This day has traditionally two programs, one for professionals andanother for the general public and patients. In 2010, the Health Council has assessed the potential toxic effects of ribavirine (antiviralmedication, among others used in the treatment of hepatitis C) on the reproductionand unborn child. They concluded that there is reason for concern, althoughtoxicity was not sufficiently proven.106