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When can I stop Baraclude treatment?
I am female, 28 y.o. I have known being the carrier for about 10 years (probably since birth).
I first started treatment since Jan 08, due to very high load of DNA (almost 600m copies) and high AST, ALT (200, 600 respectively). Echographie abdominale shows Liver were functioning well (all following tests showed same result).
As prescribed by doctor, I have been using Baraclude since. After 6 months treatment (Jul 08), ALT, AST were back in normal range. Virus count dropped to less than 30K copies . Anti-Hbe tested Pos. I was told that the treatment objectives were achieved but advised to continue with the medicine to bring back DNA to lower level.
6 months later (1 year after treatment), my DNA test was done again and showed the undetectable level of the virus (<500copies/ml). I expected then the treatment might be able to stop. However I was advised to continue to taking the medicine being afraid that the resistance to the medicine might develop if I stop using. I have since continued the treatment and all follow-up check-up shows very good result.
Most recently, test in Dec 2009 shows AST 16.2, AKT 11.2. HbeAg Neg. Non-detectable virus count (<500copies/ml).
It looks like it is advisable for me to use Baraclude for life, which is although not too much a problem on the finance aspect, but is extremely inconvinient for other aspects of life. This is because I would like to use contraceptive pills for birth control but it is advisable that anyone taking treatment for Hep B shouldn't use pills.
My questions are therefore, in my case, when can I stop Baraclude? My second question followed, if I have to continue w the medicine, what are the options I can use for birth control (beside usage of condom everytime, which is not a prefered choice)?
Thank you very much for helping with my case.
I first started treatment since Jan 08, due to very high load of DNA (almost 600m copies) and high AST, ALT (200, 600 respectively). Echographie abdominale shows Liver were functioning well (all following tests showed same result).
As prescribed by doctor, I have been using Baraclude since. After 6 months treatment (Jul 08), ALT, AST were back in normal range. Virus count dropped to less than 30K copies . Anti-Hbe tested Pos. I was told that the treatment objectives were achieved but advised to continue with the medicine to bring back DNA to lower level.
6 months later (1 year after treatment), my DNA test was done again and showed the undetectable level of the virus (<500copies/ml). I expected then the treatment might be able to stop. However I was advised to continue to taking the medicine being afraid that the resistance to the medicine might develop if I stop using. I have since continued the treatment and all follow-up check-up shows very good result.
Most recently, test in Dec 2009 shows AST 16.2, AKT 11.2. HbeAg Neg. Non-detectable virus count (<500copies/ml).
It looks like it is advisable for me to use Baraclude for life, which is although not too much a problem on the finance aspect, but is extremely inconvinient for other aspects of life. This is because I would like to use contraceptive pills for birth control but it is advisable that anyone taking treatment for Hep B shouldn't use pills.
My questions are therefore, in my case, when can I stop Baraclude? My second question followed, if I have to continue w the medicine, what are the options I can use for birth control (beside usage of condom everytime, which is not a prefered choice)?
Thank you very much for helping with my case.
I do hope I will win this fight but however it doesnt seem like im winning because if so my dna would have dropped right?
no it is hbsag to drop when you clear hbv infection and not hbvdna, hbvdna can be und but infection the same as before
Anyway, dr says since my liver is considered healthy, he says I can wait it out.
he is correct and you just need fibroscan monitoring, hbvdna, ast and alt are useless to see how your liver is only fibroscan can say if you are having damage, remember it is not the virus to make damage so if you look at the virus to see damage you are totally wrong it is your own immune system to make the damage to your liver
no it is hbsag to drop when you clear hbv infection and not hbvdna, hbvdna can be und but infection the same as before
Anyway, dr says since my liver is considered healthy, he says I can wait it out.
he is correct and you just need fibroscan monitoring, hbvdna, ast and alt are useless to see how your liver is only fibroscan can say if you are having damage, remember it is not the virus to make damage so if you look at the virus to see damage you are totally wrong it is your own immune system to make the damage to your liver
I do hope I will win this fight but however it doesnt seem like im winning because if so my dna would have dropped right? Thinking abt this is just depressing and making me anxious all day. Anyway, dr says since my liver is considered healthy, he says I can wait it out. But im just worried what if something happens all of a sudden like a bad flare. Really hope God will pave a way for me soon.
Anyway how have you been engr? Have you seroconverted to e neg? Are u still on etv?
Anyway how have you been engr? Have you seroconverted to e neg? Are u still on etv?
I think your immune system are now responding and destroying the virus. This causes the elevation of sgpt. The main question is can the immune system eliminate the virus or does the virus multiply so fast that it still rises even with immune response. If the latter is true, then you need antiviral therapy to control viral multiplication but if the immune can eliminate the virus, the you will be an active case and your body can eliminate the virus by itself. This is based from my own experience, it's always better to get advice from health professionals.
I just emailed my diagnostics center regarding the hbsag w/ titer for their results are confusing as it indicates CMIA method but has no unit in iu/ml. I'm hoping to get a response from them. Thanks for the info.
Guys..u need ur advise. I stopped entecavir mar 2012 and after stopping I did monitor and DNA was fluctuating up and down between 2-4log. But my latest bld test showed DNA 7log, and this makes me very worried. Also, my ALT has always been very low ard 10-12, but in feb it went up to 54 and apr it went even higher to 84. What is happening now? I did u/s which was normal and fibroscan 4.0kpa. My dr advised me 2 options - either start TNF or wait it out and monitor. What should I do and what is happening to my immune system?? This is making me so so worried.
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