Hepatitis C Genotype 1B

Hello,

I have Hepatitis C Genotype 1B. In Germany is the Virus Load postive but in India its negtiv. Is the HCV test in India a fake?

What is the best medicine present for this Genotype?

[pooh55811]

I am going to respond so your question gets bumped to the top. Maybe then someone on this forum who is more experienced and knowledgeable than I am can respond to you.

In my opinion, if you were diagnosed in Germany with Hepatitis C Genotype 1B, then you are postive for Hep C Genotype 1B. And if they did a viral load then you also know your viral load. I don't see how all of those tests could be wrong.  Therefore, if your test in India came back negative, it seems to me that the test done in India must not be correct.

You probably need to go to a knowledgeable doctor in a metropolitan area in India (a gastrointestinal MD who specializes in Hepatitis C treatment or a hepatologist) for further testing and to discuss a treatment plan. Depending on your circumstances and medical condition, if you and the doctor decide to treat your disease, you would most likely be placed on the triple medication therapy regimen. The successful cure rate for Hepatitis C Genotype 1 is about 75% or more if you do the triple therapy. (When only the two drugs were used, the cure rate was much, much lower). Therefore, your doctor would probably put you on the triple medication regimen (if it is available in India)

The triple medication regimen consists of Interferon Injections, Ribavirin, and a third drug, either Teleprevir or Boceprevir. Treatment with this 3 medication regimen give you the best chance of clearing the virus .

I wish you the very best.

[pooh55811]

I am going to respond so your question gets bumped to the top. Maybe then someone on this forum who is more experienced and knowledgeable than I am can respond to you.

In my opinion, if you were diagnosed in Germany with Hepatitis C Genotype 1B, then you are postive for Hep C Genotype 1B. And if they did a viral load then you also know your viral load. I don't see how all of those tests could be wrong.  Therefore, if your test in India came back negative, it seems to me that the test done in India must not be correct.

You probably need to go to a knowledgeable doctor in a metropolitan area in India (a gastrointestinal MD who specializes in Hepatitis C treatment or a hepatologist) for further testing and to discuss a treatment plan. Depending on your circumstances and medical condition, if you and the doctor decide to treat your disease, you would most likely be placed on the triple medication therapy regimen. The successful cure rate for Hepatitis C Genotype 1 is about 75% or more if you do the triple therapy. (When only the two drugs were used, the cure rate was much, much lower). Therefore, your doctor would probably put you on the triple medication regimen (if it is available in India)

The triple medication regimen consists of Interferon Injections, Ribavirin, and a third drug, either Teleprevir or Boceprevir. Treatment with this 3 medication regimen give you the best chance of clearing the virus .

I wish you the very best.

[pooh55811]

Here is a website with more information:

http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/patient/diagnosis/labtests-single-page.asp


"Hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab, anti-HCV)

This is the first test for determining whether you have been infected with hepatitis C. The results will come back as either positive or negative.

Explanation of test results:

If this test result is positive, it means your body was exposed to the hepatitis C virus and made antibodies (for more information, see "Antibody" section under Associated Lab Tests). However, it does not tell you whether you are still infected with hepatitis C. If the antibody test result is positive, you should be tested for hepatitis C RNA (see "Hepatitis C RNA"), which determines whether you are chronically infected. The lab might perform this RNA test automatically if your hepatitis C antibody test is positive or your doctor might need to order the Hepatitis C RNA test separately.

If the antibody test result is negative, it means you have not been infected with the hepatitis C virus, and further testing for hepatitis C usually is not needed.

Other things to know:
After a successful course of treatment for hepatitis C, the hepatitis C antibody remains detectable, but the hepatitis C RNA will be undetectable.
Any patient with a positive test result for the hepatitis C antibody should have additional tests to determine whether or not the virus is still active.


Hepatitis C RNA qualitative testing

The qualitative HCV RNA tests use either a process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or a process called transcription-mediated amplification (TMA). Either type of qualitative test will report whether the hepatitis C virus is present in the bloodstream or not. The result is reported as either "detected" or "not detected."

Explanation of test results:

If a qualitative RNA test is positive (detected), then it is confirmed that the patient has chronic hepatitis C. The "qualitative" test is more accurate than the "quantitative" test because qualitative tests are able to detect very low levels of the virus.

Other things to know:
If a patient has a quantitative test that shows no detectable virus, but has a positive result with the qualitative test, it means there is a very low level of virus that can be detected only with the qualitative test.
The qualitative test will show a negative result when patients have a successful response to interferon treatment.
The qualitative test result also will be negative when patients clear the hepatitis C virus on their own, soon after infection, or "spontaneously."


Hepatitis C RNA quantitative testing

The quantitative HCV RNA tests measure the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood. The result will be an exact number, such as "1,215,422 IU/L." Many people refer to the quantitative measurement as the hepatitis C "viral load."

Explanation of test results:

There are 2 situations in which a quantitative test is useful:

The quantitative HCV RNA test is checked before a patient starts treatment.

For each patient, the result can be described as either a "high" viral load, which is usually >800,000 IU/L, or a "low" viral load, which is usually <800,000 IU/L. Knowing the viral load before starting treatment is useful because patients with "high" viral loads can have a difficult time getting the virus to become completely undetectable on treatment. Patients with "low" viral loads have a better chance of getting their virus to become completely undetectable on treatment.

The quantitative HCV RNA test is used to monitor a patient who is currently on treatment.

The response to treatment is considered good when the quantitative HCV RNA measurement drops and the virus eventually becomes completely undetectable.

Other things to know:
The viral load measurement does not tell us anything about the severity of a patient's liver disease or the degree of fibrosis (scarring). For that information, the patient would need a liver biopsy.
It is not necessary to check the viral load repeatedly unless a patient is on treatment or is considering treatment.
If a quantitative HCV RNA result is reported as "<615 IU/L," this means that the quantitative test cannot measure the hepatitis C virus. It may mean that there is no detectable HCV RNA at all, but it may mean that the level of virus is just too low for the test to pick it up. A qualitative test should then be performed to see if there is any detectable hepatitis C virus at all (see previous screen: "Hepatitis C RNA Qualitative Testing").
If a quantitative HCV RNA results is "<615 IU/L" but the qualitative test is "detected" then the hepatitis C virus is present in the bloodstream, but at a very very low level, too low to be measured by a quantitative test.


Hepatitis C RIBA

The hepatitis C recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) is the confirmation test for the hepatitis C antibody.

Explanation of test results:

If the result of the HCV RIBA is positive, this confirms that the detection of a hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) was a true positive, meaning that there has been infection with hepatitis C in the past.

If the HCV RIBA result is negative, it means there has not been infection with hepatitis C. If an earlier hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) test had been positive, then this was a false positive.

Other things to know:
Even if the HCV RIBA result is positive, only the test of HCV RNA (viral load) can detect whether the hepatitis C virus is still present in the body.
HCV RIBA is not a test that is needed for most patients. Usually, it is performed by blood banks to check for hepatitis C in people who donate blood.


Hepatitis C genotype

The hepatitis C genotype is a type or "strain" of hepatitis C virus. There are 6 genotypes of hepatitis C around the world. In the United States, 3 genotypes are common:
Genotype 1
Genotype 2
Genotype 3

These can be further specified as:
Genotype 1a or 1b
Genotype 2a or 2b
Genotype 3a or 3b

The genotype of hepatitis C does not change over time. It needs to be tested only once.

Explanation of test results:

Knowing the genotype of hepatitis C for each patient is very important information because hepatitis C treatment works differently for different genotypes. In general, genotype 1 is much more "resistant" to hepatitis C treatment and genotypes 2 and 3 are much more "sensitive" to treatment.

Genotype 1 (more difficult to treat)
Approximately 72% of Americans with hepatitis C have genotype 1
Chance of clearing hepatitis C virus is 42-46%
Treatment usually lasts for 1 year
Ribavirin dosage usually is higher than that required to treat other genotypes

Genotype 2 (easier to treat)
Approximately 10% of Americans with hepatitis C have genotype 2
Chance of clearing hepatitis C virus is 65-80%
Treatment usually lasts for 6 months
Ribavirin dosage usually is lower than that required to treat genotype 1

Genotype 3 (easier to treat)
Approximately 6% of Americans with hepatitis C have genotype 3
Chance of clearing hepatitis C virus is 65-80%
Treatment usually lasts for 6 months
Ribavirin dosage usually is lower than that required to treat genotype 1


Viral load

The viral load of hepatitis C refers to the amount of virus present in the bloodstream.

A viral load test is usually measured with the hepatitis C RNA quantitative test; a blood sample will be taken by needle from a vein in your arm.

Viral load tests are often used with hepatitis C treatment to help determine response to treatment by comparing the amount of virus in your blood before, during, and after treatment.

If you have lower levels of virus in your blood when you start treatment, you may have a better chance of getting rid of the virus."

[pooh55811]

If you have an actual paper copy of your labs tests that were done in Germany, please post the results (exactly as they show on the paper copy). That way people on the forum will know exactly which tests you had and can better comment on the results.

[aindia54]

Thank you a lot. I am in India and can give more Info when back to Germany after 6 month, the result is there in Hospital.

India is not expert in HCV. I try an other homeopathy medicine from India name is Life Force.

May its helpfull the Dr Shah Clinic in India.  http://www.askdrshah.com/app/

[aindia54]

In Germany, I did not get treatment because I'm lonely and in poor health condition. The risk would be too big and could not be treated as outpatients. I had an idea to try it in India. Over 12 months, I now get the medicine. In 18 months of treatment and HCV whole death was his answer. I feel 100% better with this medication. The pain magnified the liver are gone and also the inner hatred. My psyche is good again. If I have news I'll get back.

[nygirl7]

If you had a viral load when you lived in Germany and then when you moved to India did not it could be that your body had beaten off the virus on it's own and you no longer have it. Of course, that can only happen in the first six months that you have the disease and after that it cannot.

When you get back to Germany get retested at the same facility that tested you positve. You will always test positive for the antibodies whether you beat the disease (on your own or with medication).

[UKgirl55]

Are you saying you went to India for treatment? If so, what treatment did you do?

[aindia54]

My first treatment was in india in acupuncture for insomnia; confusion; hallucinations; headache; balance disorder; decreased appetite and prevent all types of allergies. 365 days a year I did the allergy problems, it was worse in the spring. All complaints are actually gone. Acupuncture of poor liver function, I have not done yet. Only a particular acupuncturist in Amritsar was able to take my suffering OPP Bandari Hospital and he is 100% honest and good, approximate $10 for 14 tratment.

[aindia54]

May be so, but not necessarily. The liver levels were increased more in India than in Germany. I think that the test was a lie when I see the liver in India. The most important thing for me to have found a medicine that helps (eg against restlessness and hate too) but the liver function tests are not better. The Doctor said in Mumbai that the virus is trapped and then destroyed by this drug and it would not be seen in the findings. Since 1997, the hepatitis is known to me and there is still no medicine without side effects.

[aindia54]

During the period of suffering I had cramps in my toe when I'm lying in bed. it got worse and had to last spasms. Once I had cramp of the hips to the toes. First, I took vitamin E capsules 200mg but it has gotten worse and I took 400mg. Now I take Qgold medicine. Info for Qgold wood gives the internet. The homoeopathic medical help by Dr Shah very well and I have also gained in weight. My internal anger and hate has left me with these meds from Dr Shah. I finally feel calm and relaxed after taking the meds from Dr Shah.

[aindia54]

I was in Germany and got the result of the quantitative testing. In India there are 2 different test I know now quantitative and qualitative, quantitative was positive and qualitative negative. I use now marie thistle for treatment my liver because have swelling pain on belly. Marie thistle 140mg 3 time a day for 6 weeks. Marie thistle - Latin name silybum marianum - name in India 'silybon'.

[aindia54]

I have Hepatitis C Genotype 1A