Hep c advice please.

[col135]

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of the most recent up to date trials or studys ive been asked to paticipate at barts or cambridge hospitals for hep c  virus genotype 1 treatment,non responder to 12wks of alpha peg -2 interferon/ribvarian still trying to make a decision.Thanks as always col135.

[col135]

Hello hectorSF,went to see my liver consultant on the 16thfeb 2012 for my hcv genotype 1,its been arranged for me to have an ultrasound on my liver for the 5th march 2012.Whilst at the appointment i was once again asked about whether or not i would like to participate in trials for treatments for hepatitis c.The reason  to do so,is my platelet count is to low with the underlying diagnosis of cirrhosis for me to be treated safely with a protease inhibitor in the same hospital setting as before.Therefore it would be more apt to be treated at a viral hepatitis centre where they have new trials going for patients with thrombocytopenia (low platelets).When im at the hospital on the 5th march ill try and find out my initial viral load at 4wks and 12wks for when i had  tx in dec 2010,on the 13th dec 2010 my bloods demonstrated Hb 13.5,white cell count 1.5,platelets 34,and neutrophils 0.4 and some of my LFT,s had deteriorated.Those figures are as per the letter id recieved on the 20th dec 2010 whilst having the standard tx.Hope this helps a little,more updates when im told a bit more.Thanks Always Colin.

[col135]

Hello there first of all thanks for replying,im living in the uk and have done all my life.My first and only course of treatment at present for hep c geno type 1 was done at my local hospital which is southend university hospital  essex they have a joint liver clinic.My consultant liver specialist is Dr G.P. Bray Bsc MD FRCP the treatment for the hep c virus used was peginterfero alfa-2a 180micrograms pre-filled syringe injection sub-cutaneous 1 per week plus ribavirin 1000mg daily.This ceased after 12 weeks because my viral load did not drop sufficient enough  to warrant continuation this was at the end of December 2010.Ill find as much of the information on initial viral load at the times you have requested,also ive been asked to participate not in trials but to be treated with the newer most recent type of hep c virus drugs.This would be at Barts Hospital london or Cambridge Hospital both not far from me first of all i would be invited for a days discussion to go over the whole process of treatment.Just recently had a meeting on the 16th feb 2012 to discuss my latest blood test results with the liver consultant and this is when the above was put to me,next im having a ultrasound on my liver at the same local hospital southend then im going back to discuss the results again at the same hospital southend.When i recieve my letter from the hospital with the latest blood test results will let you know them as soon as possible.And hopefully what the new drugs are called and there success ratio etc etc.Thanks Again col135.Aged 48.

[HectorSF]

First and most importantly, you need to be under the care of a hepatologist at a liver transplant center. You can not figure this out on your own based on generalities. You should be able to find one in Boston. They will do a full evaluation of the health of your liver, your previous hep C treatment and let you know what options are available to you.
You local hospital is not qualified to treat you. Only a Liver Disease center that works with cirrhotics on a daily basis. You do realize that cirrhosis is a potentially fatal illness and should not be treated lightly.

When did you treat your hepatitis C. When you had cirrhosis?
When you say non-responder…what was your initial viral load, after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks?

You say your platelet count is very low. How low? 75,000, 50,000, 25,000?

What is w/c/count???

How have you been asked to be in a clinical trial? What trial is it? What is its purpose? Do they let cirrhotics join the trial? Most hepatitis C trials don’t admit persons with cirrhosis until they reach phase III during the final trials. Also most trials exclude patients with very low platelet counts.

We need more information in order to help you. Please answer the questions I asked.

Hector

[pooh55811]

I am bumping you back to the top in the hopes that someone knowledgeable about cirrhosis will respond.

[pooh55811]

You said in your other post "had hep c genotype 1 since 1986 or they called it non- a /non- b hepatitis when had first liver biopsy at royal free hampstead in 86.Non-responder to first lot of treatment interferon/rib stopped after 12wks now platelets very low same with w/c/count wont treat me now at my local hospital because of the above been told it would be pointless.Usual problems with liver nodules/swollen/scar tissue and cirrioshis....any advice please.

I am not one of the experts on the forum. Hopefully some of them will chime in with responses. However, I will ask if you are seeing a qualified Hepatologist who is very familiar and experienced with treating people with Hep C. If you have cirrhosis and low platelets and low white count, you need to be under the care of a specialist who knows how to treat people with Hep C and cirrhosis.

I hope others respond and I hope you will be able to treat successfully.