can anyone help me understand by liver biopsy results ?

[PRINCESS512]

cronic hepatitus C,minimalactivity ( grade 1 ),periportal fibrosis ( stage 2 ).Stainable iron is absent.biopsy shows infiltration of some portal areas by small -to-modest number of lymphocytes.minimal interface hepatitus is present.Rare lobulitis is seen.bile ducts are unremarkable.liver parenchyma shows less than 1% macrovesicular steatosis.trichrome stain shows increased portal fibrosis with focal periportal fibrosis.stainable iron is absent.there is no evidence of granuloma or neoplasm

thanks if someone can break this down in laym,ans terms for me. ive got to fins a new doctor.it is very hard to understand his english.........thankyou anone who can help.i was just diagnosed 1 month ago with Genotype 2.

[flyinlynn]

Hi Princess

Liver fibrosis is the scarring process that represents the liver's response to injury.
Here are some helpful links you can read
This is a Veterans Administration web site in more like layman's terms
http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/patient/hcv/index.asp?fullsite=yes

Here is one from the American Liver Foundation
http://hepc.liverfoundation.org

Hope this can give you a start on understanding where you are and what you need to know

Good luck
Lynn

[pooh55811]

The liver biopsy results should be back in a week or so.

Your doctor should have the results and he/should call you with the results. If he/she has not called you, then call the office and tell him/her that you want the results in detail.

Also, go to the facility where you had the liver biopsy done, sign a release, and get a hard copy of your liver biopsy results.

You should get hard copies of all of your labs and tests and keep them in files at home. That way you will always have the copies and can see for yourself what they are. Plus you can compare the various results as time goes on. In addition, if you change doctors, you already have the results of tests and labs so you can bring the new doctor the copies.

Many doctors have no clue about interpreting the various results and how they relate to treatment so you need to keep track of everything about your medical condition and your care.

Best of luck.

[neilfishing]

Just wondering if anyone knows how long the results take to come back from a Liver Biopsy as I have been waiting a month now and still no results.

[CockSparrow]

Acute   = means any disease that lasts less that six months
Chronic = means any disease that lasts longer that 6 months.

Basically its a time thing, although Acute is sometimes used to mean more severe symptoms

CS

[PRINCESS512]

what does "cronic" hepatitus mean ?

[PRINCESS512]

thankyou for your reply.unfortunately i have no idea how or when i got hep c,genotype 2.i found out just about a month ago from routne blood work from my cardioligst,as i was complaining of cronic fatigue.when he told me i have hep c i wanted to die.im so scraed of the hear arrymthias from treatment causei alreadyhave that problem and take meds for that.maybe i wont get them.i guess there is no way of knowing how long i have had this ? im 44 .hubby has some funky blood work,look for my other questions i posted i think on page 1 and others about his blood work,but he is non reactive for hep a,b,c....but has oyher bloodwork issues relating to liver.i forget what page, but maybe youll find it.im new at this.......can my liver be repaired wqith meds and proper diet ?

[CockSparrow]

Whether Stage 2 is ok depends on you long you have taken to get there.
If you have had the virus 20 years or so then stage 2 can be seen as ok as its unlikely to progress further in a hurry. Damage has ocuured though and further damage likely.
If you are stage 2 and had the virus less than 10 years or so then stage 2 is a little more serious as progression is occuring quite rapidly.
Grade = inflamation and necrosis or liver cell death
The stages map to the terms Mild modeate etc below
Stage 1 = Mild
Stage 2 = Moderate
Stage 3 = Severe
Stage 4 = Cirrhosis

CS

[hepCC]

Have a look at this factsheet http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/grade_stage.pdf

I think stage 2 equals "moderate fibrosis" if I'm not misinformed, and usually treatment is recommended at this stage. However since you seem to have minimal inflammation, grade 1, this indicates that you will have very slow progression of fibrosis.

[PRINCESS512]

thankyou so much for your feedback.and your time to help me. i have the nurse calling me today after 2:00 to help explain better to me,and yes im gonna find another doctor.what does the stage 2 "fibrosis "mean.what exactly is that? thankyou....................

[charm27]

Im stage 2 Grade 2. One doctor says mild..the other moderate, also depends on your biopsy slides which I certainly cant make heads or tails out of. But in a nutshell your ok! Stage 1 & 2 are lower level, stage 3 is more extensive and stage 4 is cirhossis

Best of luck. It is a journey.

[wyntre9]

I agree with Ladywhy that you apparently have a lower level of liver damage and one of the easier to treat genotypes.

Genotype 2 often does 24 week treatment as opposed to 48 for Geno 1.

If you can't understand what your Dr. is saying I would first let him know and if he doesn't make more of an effort to communicate then I would look for another Dr.

Good Luck,

wyntre

[ladywhy]

As I read it, you have minimal liver damage. Genotype 2, Grade 1, Stage 2 Fibrosis. I'm sure someone will pop in and give you more info. than I.  Again you have the geno that is the easier to tx....and liver disease is reversible with good eating habits, some exercise, no alcohol and tx.
All the best. You're gonna be ok, Princess. Not to say it's easy...but I trust you'll get through this and be stronger for it. It is quite a journey.
y