Any studies between SVR's and natural seroconverters?

There is so much talk about SVR's 'not' being cured etc.

I was wondering if there have been any studies looking at 15-20% of the HepC population that naturally clear. i.e. are they really cured? Is the virus still lurking around in them waiting to reappear? Has it ever for example reappeared for them when if they became suppressed immunologically ?

[DoubleDose]

I think the assumption lately is that the spontaneous clearers are in a similar situation to the SVR's.  Possible differences would be that the spontaneous clearers would not have the long term damage that many SVR have accumulated from decades of the virus.  There may also be less extensive, or widespread compartmentalized residual virus in the spontaneous group as well.  A recent study that I linked weeks ago, indicated that the health of spontaneous clearers is often characterized by fatigue, and various chronic arthralgias.  If I remember correctly it was in the 50% range of those groups studied.  To me, this information is very disturbing, in that it may forshadow what the typical SVR has to look forward to over the decades.

[jboyhk]

It is well known that a inactive HBV carrier (basically undetectable virus in blood but still replicating slowly in liver) can get a rebound if their immune system is compromised (such as chemo treatment).

Just wondering if any 'natural seroconverters' ever had a rebound if their immune system became weak.

[DoubleDose]

I think the assumption lately is that the spontaneous clearers are in a similar situation to the SVR's.  Possible differences would be that the spontaneous clearers would not have the long term damage that many SVR have accumulated from decades of the virus.  There may also be less extensive, or widespread compartmentalized residual virus in the spontaneous group as well.  A recent study that I linked weeks ago, indicated that the health of spontaneous clearers is often characterized by fatigue, and various chronic arthralgias.  If I remember correctly it was in the 50% range of those groups studied.  To me, this information is very disturbing, in that it may forshadow what the typical SVR has to look forward to over the decades.

[MissMiss]

You bring up a good point of consideration.  What if:

We all, some or a higher % then is estimated, cleared initially but didn't even know we had it.  Then, later we rebounded at some point (and didn't even know it) until we finally find out and tx.  Is there any test that can really differentiate between a relapsing initially cleared person and an actual chronic case.  If those who clear on their own also exhibit some of the same sx's chronics do, how would you know?  I'm talking about folks who have had the virus over 25 years, before it was identified.

Just a thought to ponder.

miss