hepatatis tests

I am new to this forum. I had Acute Hepatatis Panel which included  HEP B SURF AG,HEP B CORE IGM,HEP A IGM AB, HEP C AB plus HEP B SURF AB,but not HEP B CORE AB TOTAL.1. If the above acute hepatatis panel plus HEB B SURF AB are all negative does this means that I never had hepetatis B in my life?If no what does it mean? 2. If HEP B CORE AB TOTAL had been done with all the above tests and it had been negative would it than mean that person never had hepetatis B in his life? 3.What's the difference between HEP B SURF AB and HEP B CORE AB TOTAL tests (and if HEP B SURF AB is negative is than HEP B CORE AB TOTAL also done or it cancels it out)?Thank you

[genedog]

here is my dr report,  hepatitis c, patient is a responder although he is not normalizing his liver enzymes. my susoicion on him with negative rna but the liver anzymes still elevated is that probably has some steatosis in addition to his hep c for witch likey he is nevr going to normalize his liver enzymes. as long as he has been rna negative, i consider him a responder ti treatment and we will cintinue.    10 to go

[Bill1954]

Hi all

I went to the lab today for another PCR. I didn

[friole]

I am so sorry you did not make your 2 log drop. Sounds like you and the doc have a good strategy to proceed.  Can you tell me again your stats-- when was your dx, what was your vl and what did the bx show?  
friole

[Bill1954]

You betcha, Friole:

50-yr old Caucasian male, 245 lbs, diagnosed 12/04 with HCV genotype 1a, baseline VL low at 75,600 IU. My biopsy was performed 1/6/05, and showed inflammation grade 2, fibrosis stage 3.5, with cirrhosis being a 4. Previously Tx naive, I started Tx on 2/18/05 with Pegasys @ 180 mcg/wk, and Copegus @ 1200 mg/day.

Using my baseline VL of 75,600 IU, I needed to show a VL of 756 IU at 12 week PCR to achieve a 2-log reduction. However, I ended up with a VL of 1,460 IU, so I missed the mark by a lousy 704 IU.

However, I showed a good biological response, with my baseline ALT at 275 U/L, reduced to 67 U/L on 5/27. With this info in mind, and the fact that my virological response was borderline, my GI doc and I decided to load up the Ribaviron from my previously assigned 1200 mg/day to 1800 mg/day in hopes of achieving a response.

That was a month ago, and I seem to be tolerating the change reasonably well. No apparent physiological or emotional events yet, and my Hgb is hanging in there at 13.8 g/dL and holding.

This Tx plan is based on 5% good science, 15% attitude, and a whole lot of guess-and-by-golly. So far I haven

[Bill1954]

By the way, I saw in another thread that you had a biopsy scheduled for today....how did it go for you? Mine went fairly well, but it kinda felt as though I'd bumped into a table corner near my lower ribs for a day or two :-)

[Bill1954]

Friole - here's wishing you best of luck on a good path. report...I'm sure whatever decision you make wil be well thought through.
----------------
Layla - thanks for he kind words. I hope the riba thing works as well... I'm ready to start taking it by the cup measure instead of counting pills, LOL.

[ASmile4U]

Last week I found out I didn't make the 2 log drop.  Baseline VL was 1.9 with 12 week VL at 44,000.  Initially the doc said he would stop tx if I didn't make the 2 log drop, however, after serious discussion and commitment on my part, he will continue to tx me for another 12 weeks to see if I clear at 24 weeks.  I was content with just being allowed to continue but wonder now, after reading your post, if I should ask for a little more to help with this fight.  Perhaps because you are male and a couple of years older (though just a few!)it's necessary to make such changes.  I am a 43 year old female, genotype 1 and currently on Peg-Intron 120/.05 and 1000 riba which is weight appropriate for me.  My 12 week labs looked rather good otherwise AST 38, ALT 45 - both within normal range after being in the 200's pre tx.  HGB is at it's lowest 11.9 and platelets are on the rise at 76.  I basically consider myself at 14/72 as opposed to 14/48 now, whatever it takes...  :)

[Bill1954]

Wow, a lot of similarities, huh?

I

[layla]

I am so sorry you missed the two log drop. It sounds like you have a good doc willing to be agressive and work for you. Keep us posted and lets hope the added riba works quickly. LL

[friole]

Thanks for asking.  Slept away the day yesterday.  Biopsy went smoothly.  The surgeon told my husband everything looked normal, but we will have to wait for the pathology report to know for sure.  He said Monday.  I am to schedule an appointment with him on Friday for a followup. Hopefully my genotyped test will be in next week too - then I will have all the pieces of the puzzle. Then the GI will schedule an appt for treatment.  I just haven't decided whether to treat or not if there is no/minimal damage.
kathy

[ASmile4U]

Thanks for the article, I've seen it before, but read through it again.  The unknown of the long term effects frightens me a bit.  I also have 15 year old twins that I have to tend with at the present!  However, I'd like to get away with doing this tx just once as well.  Not sure how flexible my doc is.  I would have thought if he was going to change anything he would have made that change when he got my 12 week labs.  I see him on the 12th and will see what he has to offer.  Not sure he likes me telling him what I think with regards to my tx!  But that doesn't stop me. :) He also told me to stay away from the internet...yeah right.
I hope all continues to go well with you...I take one day at a time and do the best I can do...seems to be working so far.  :)