Contents

This page was last modified on 18 May 2016, at 10:26.

Condition

Injection of any drug or other substance not prescribed by a qualified physician or other healthcare professional. This encompasses, for example, drugs of addiction such as heroin, and use of non-prescribed injected anabolic steroids.

Individual at risk

Recipient

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Guidance at RECRUITMENT for adult volunteer donor and maternal donor (cord blood donation)

UNACCEPTABLE if injected drugs of addiction within the previous five years

UNACCEPTABLE if injected other non-prescription drugs, such as anabolic steroids, within the previous six months

Guidance at CT/WORK-UP

UNACCEPTABLE if injected drugs of addiction within the previous five years

If donor has injected androgenic steroid, or other non-addictive medications, then they may proceed at the discretion of the requesting transplant centre.

Justification for guidance

Use of non-prescribed injected drugs of addiction is associated with a considerably higher risk of transmission of blood borne infectious diseases.

Although case reports of transmission of hepatitis C have been reported in users of androgenic steroids have been reported, the exposure risk remains very low and such donors may proceed at the discretion of the requesting transplant centre.

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References

Elghouzzi MH, Bouchardeau F, Pillonel J, Boiret E, Tirtaine C, Barlet V et al. Hepatitis C virus: routes of infection and genotypes in a cohort of anti-HCV-positive French blood donors. Vox Sang 2000; 79(3): 138-44.

Aitken C, Delalande C, Stanton K. Pumping iron, risking infection? Exposure to hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV among anabolic-androgenic steroid injectors in Victoria, Australia. Drug Alcohol Depend 2002; 65(3): 303-8.

Midgley SJ, Heather N, Best D, Henderson D, McCarthy S, Davies JB. Risk behaviours for HIV and hepatitis infection among anabolic-androgenic steroid users. AIDS Care 2000; 12(2): 163-70.

Rich JD, Dickinson BP, Merriman NA, Flanigan TP. Hepatitis C virus infection related to anabolic-androgenic steroid injection in a recreational weight lifter. Am J Gastroenterol 1998; 93(9): 1598.

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