Liver Enzyme Analysis in HCV-Infected Patients with Chronic Use of Smoked Opium Derivatives vs. Oral Methadone Consumption

Background Hepatitis C is a global issue, causing acute and chronic hepatitis with high mortality. Drug abusers are at the highest risk. Objectives This study compares liver enzyme levels in HCV patients using smoked opium derivatives versus oral methadone to assess prognosis and treatment response. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic, retrospective study included 100 participants from a sample of 350, selected based on inclusion criteria. Data were collected via a researcher-designed checklist and analyzed using STATA14 with descriptive and inferential statistics. Covariance analysis was used to control for confounders like time and age. Results The mean levels of liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in patients with chronic HCV who consumed methadone orally were 77.25 (SD=8.26) and 78.325 (SD=7.91), respectively. The mean levels of ALT and AST in patients with chronic HCV who smoked heroin were 50.71 (SD=4.88) and 53 (SD=4.69), respectively. The effect of two confounding variables, age, and duration of drug use, on the level of liver enzymes was controlled using covariance analysis. The level of significance of the model was 0.007, which was less than 0.05, indicating that the level of AST and ALT in patients with chronic HCV who consumed methadone orally and smoked heroin was different. Conclusion HCV patients using oral methadone show higher ALT and AST levels and greater liver damage than heroin smokers. Alternative treatments to methadone are recommended to reduce liver damage and improve outcomes in these patients.