albionchick

[albionchick]

If the viral load does not drop below 1000 after 4 weeks of triple treatment using Incivek, my doctors tell me they will stop all treatment. Surely 4 weeks is a little too soon to make such a decision when treatment is designed to last a minimum of 24 weeks. Is this a new standard

[Advocate1955]

Ooops, correction in my statement above <1,000 at week 4 or 12 and UND at week 24.
Advocate1955

[Advocate1955]

Yes, it is a new standard specifically for triple tx with Incivek.  You must be below 1,000 at week 4 and UND at week 12.  Both of these are stopping points.
Advocate1955

[Sentinel13]

Incivek is a very powerful drug. With Incivek, my viral load dropped from 22,000,000 to 65 after the first week. It was undetectable after the second week. If the Incivek is working, your viral load will be less than 1,000 after 4 weeks.

[willbb]

This protocol is to protect patients from developing resistance issues with very little chance of success.

Best..
Will


http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/ucm256328.htm

Discontinuation of Dosing

Patients with inadequate viral response are unlikely to achieve SVR, and may develop treatment-emergent resistance substitutions. Discontinuation of therapy is recommended in all patients with (1) HCV-RNA levels of greater than or equal to 1000 IU/mL at Treatment Week 4 or 12; or (2) confirmed detectable HCV-RNA levels at Treatment Week 24 (see Table 2).

[80mecheng]

Attached link contains the current guidelines and is a very good source.  My doctor has been very good but I read everything I could get my hands on so I could be an informed consumer, many doctors do not.

Link:  http://www.aasld.org/practiceguidelines/Documents/2011UpdateGenotype1HCVbyAASLD24641.pdf

Here is the key text:

9. Treatment with all three drugs (telaprevir,
peginterferon alfa, and ribavirin) should be stopped
if the HCV RNA level is >1,000 IU/mL at treatment
weeks 4 or 12 and/or detectable at treatment
week 24 (Class 2a, Level B).