Six studies were included in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection (n=206 on methadone and n=162 in the contrast group). Five studies included inclusion and exclusion criteria and one partially so. Five of the studies used an intention-to-treat analysis. Four studies reported withdrawals and dropouts adequately, one partially and one had no drop outs.
The rates of sustained virological response in maintenance patients ranged from 28 per cent to 94 per cent. Completion rates ranged from 50 per cent to 100 per cent. There was no significant difference in the rates of sustained virological response or psychiatric side-effects in methadone maintenance patients compared with contrast groups. A brief narrative of liver transplantation results was presented.