16 week results

[mar148]

Well I have type 3 hpc with minor liver damage and got my 16 week VL back as undetected.  After week four they changed the type of VL test they gave me from a bdna to a pcr.  The 4 week was under 615 bdna and detected qualitative.  Subsequent weeks 8, 12 and 16 have been undetected.  My doctors office called and said they thought I am responded well and should only do 24 weeks and will test at 8 and 24 post TX. They give my chances as 70 to 80 percent.  Any thoughts from any of your experience?  

[mar148]

Did they take your 4 week viral load?  I was almost clear at 4 weeks (under 615 bdna test) and then undetected at the 8 week test at under 50 pcr test.  So I am i fuzzy territory. I could have been clear at 6 weeks.  My doctor has been very good, but I am going to talk with him more.

[zena49]

The first time I did tx 02. I had a sucky DR. I don't really know when I became und. but was und. at 6mon. and then I went to DR. and had blood work done at 11mon. pst. tx and it was back. This time was und. at wk.6 and doin pegs. I take 1000mg of riba. don't know how much you weigh, but the first time I did tx only took 800, and relapsed. Good luck.

[mar148]

I am on pegasys 2a with 800 ribaviron daily.  I wish you luck and manageable side effects.  I am getting to the last 6 shots and really worrying if it will work.  How soon did you become undetected before and when did you find out it relapsed?  How long are you going to do it this time?

[zena49]

I too am geno3, did tx in 02 with interferon and relapsed. Now I'm doin pegasys and will be on # 16 Sunday.

[mar148]

Very interesting, I was under 615 at week four which was what they looked for at week 2 to predict positive results.  I don't know my week 2, only 4 which was under 615.  So it is guesswork as to whether i was under 615 at week 2, but not ruled out.  great article.

[zazza]

Here is a link you might find interesting called "Ultra Rapid Virological Response at Week 2 Predicts Sustained Response in HCV Genotype 3 Patients with High Viral Load: The Get-C Study".

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2007icr/aasld/docs/110907_d.html

[mar148]

Well I see my doctor on Feb. 12th and will talk with him one on one.  Since I was almost clear at 4 weeks (over 99 percent clear) and completely clear thereafter it will be interesting to see if he sticks with his first thoughts.  He is a specialist in hep c and i trust his opinion.

[comeagain]

If I were U I would go more then 24 wecks , since me my self relapsed after 24 had also miner damage I`Me a bit fat though  and got prob to little riba 800, now 1200 check my stats in my profile if u wanna know more.

[comeagain]

that was nice to here I`m at the same track then. Thought it was the other way around whit U. the doc convinced me to lower second shot of pegasys but today on my third gonna go back to normal dose again and hopefully stay there.

[mar148]

I was almost (under 615 bdna) but detected at weeks four.  I came down 5 logs from 9 million.  

[comeagain]

were u or were u not UND at weck 4

[FlGuy]

The first tx (24 weeks) was PegIntron with relapse.  The second was 46 weeks with Pegasys.  I attribute the relapse to a flat 800 mg of riba, should have been weight-based. I don't think the issue was the ifn.  However, I did find Pegasys much more tolerable even when I double-dosed it for the first 4 weeks

[comeagain]

I know u done 2 tx one with pegintron and one with pegasys in what order if i may ask?

[FlGuy]

Good to see you. Had a 3 month pcr which was und and other levels getting back to normal.  So all looks ok.  Still need to get busy on the blood sugar monitoring to see where that is these days.  In that respect still have my head stuck in the sand.  I was reminded again very recently with posts dealing with insulin resistance.  Just something I need to focus on.  You seem to still have quite a row to hoe and I hope it's going well for you.  Speaking of plunger, had a toilet that 'crapped out' last week and spent the better part of a weekend taking the whole thing apart and getting it back together.  What a nasty job.  At least I sort of appreciated that I was able to do it which is a better condition than  i was in this time last year. Take care Bill and keep it up, it will end some day.  Still at he-man levels of riba?

[Bill1954]

FLGuy- I haven't pushed my plunger in years. Not even certain it works anymore... just saying hello, and checking in on you. You have competed the the 90 day post successfuly, haven't you?

Mar- Good luck on your treatment efforts- as you probably know, geno 3 responds fairly well to IFN treatment. It sounds as if you're of to a good start. As  a GT-1, I don't follow all the type 3 data as closely as I could, but by your description, you should be on your way to putting this in your rear-view mirror.

Good luck to you,

Bill

[FlGuy]

Assume it hep C, geno type 3.  Being really, most sincerely undetectable at week 8 is a nice place to be and apparently an earlier viral decline early on in the treatment.  Being at around week 17 it's a matter of pounding the pills and pushing the plunger and finishing before Spring arrives.  In a few days you can say you finish next month.  8 and 24 weeks post is an ok schedule.  If you are one of those impatient patients you might see if you can convince the doc to make it 4 weeks after the last riba and then the 24 week one to polish it all off.