Interesting Article on HCV and Low Platelet Count

Being recently diagnosed, I am of course trying to learn all I can about this disease, while waiting to see the specialist. While I don't yet have low platelets, I do notice that they've dropped from 225,000 10 years ago to about 175,000 this month. Low is defined as < 100,000.

Here's a nifty article on the relationship between HCV/HCB, platelet count, and fibrosis.

http://www.natap.org/2004/HCV/090704_06.htm

[madelefant]

I noticed my blood tests list the normal range from 150 to 400. Strange thing I am going through treatment again but my last blood tests (before resuming treatment) showed results better than even just before I went through treatment the last time. Making me wonder if I should not just tough it out and skip treatment.  

[hcvJames]

I'd eat baby kittens without a bun for a platelet count of 175. It hovers at the low end of 70-40 range. Expect when you begin treatment it will take a hit. How much is impossible to say but starting from a very GOOD 175. Under treatment real concern begins as it approaches 50.

Second thoughts about starting treatment? How old are you? How long have you had it and what type. Any liver damage? Had a biopsy?

I'd second and third thought this before a final decision then I'd go ahead and get treatment anyway. It just doesn't get better by itself.

Welcome and Good Luck!

[evangelin]

My husband has treated 3 times unsuccessfully.  The last time was 15 months on interferon/riba and alinia.  His platelets have been under 80 for the last 6 years and have been as low as the low 40's before starting HR's supplements.  His platelets never plunged during the whole 15 months of his last TX.  I kept waiting for it but it never happened.  I don't know if melatonin was helpful or not and I don't even know if it is safe to take during TX or any time.  Joe did take it during his last TX...is this why his platelets stayed up? I gave him between 6 and 10 mg.  I went even higher at first but quickly chickened out and lowered it.  I don't know.  He never cleared. His viral load just got stuck in the low hundreds.  I wouldn't want to recommend taking it.  Lately there was an article indicating it might cause insulin resistance.  I don't know if that will turn out to be valid or not.  I have no answers but just put this out there as interesting. Joe's last platelet count was a bit higher than before he started the last TX. I got the idea of using melatonin for platelets from the Life Extension Foundation website. They have been using it for cancer patients.  Keep in mind, for all we know, it might have a negative impact on TX but if it is impossible to stay on TX because of plunging platelets, it might be worth trying.
Ev

[hcvJames]

Skip treatment because your platelet count is better now than when you originally started treatment the first time?

[RobertBeWell]

Hiya James,

I was just diagnosed last month, I'm currently waiting to see a specialist. My primary care doc noticed some slightly elevated AST/ALT levels, and we went from there. I've had the PCR test done, VL=550,000. Ultrasound was normal in all respects, almost all of my blood work looks good with the exception of an elevated iron level, and the AST/ALT.

I suspect I've had it for at least 30 years, probably 35. I'm 51 years old.

When I get in to see the specialist, she'll order a genotyping, biopsy and a ton of other stuff I'm sure. Then I'll decide on treatment. Of course, I'm ready to beat this now... but, with the new drugs coming in the very near future, if I can wait, I probably will. We'll see.

Appointment is not till mid-June, so I'm basically just killin' time studying up. The hepatologist reviewed all my medical records and said she didn't see any reason to have me "leap frog" others to get in for the appointment sooner, so they left it at mid-June.

Thanks for the welcome bro!

[madelefant]

You might have been referring to me about the skip treatment thing.  After the first time treatment didn't work the doctor went over several options.  I don't recall any of them being no treatment but some were management strategies as I recall.  Based on what he said, after going through treatment, even though the virus comes back again the liver can have improved because of the regenerative powers of the liver.  The differences in my tests appears to indicate that happened. So the question becomes at age 51 how advantageous is 72 weeks of hell if personal habits management (diet etc) can take me through normal lifespan expectations. Just simply what comes to mind etc.

[IMstacie]

Interesting article.  When I think about it, I had low platlets years ago.  If the doctor would have known about this she may have taken the right test then.

[hcvJames]

madelefant, yes, I goofed :-} I'm 58 and was kicking along well enough until 3 or 4 years ago when I started becoming easily fatigued, winded, couldn't take heat and humidity, etc. Thought it was part of getting old but after being diagnosed and biopsied last year I can see where these symptoms, and more, are part of HCV disease. This is to say things go south fairly quick. However if your liver is in decent shape you can wait and hope the new med's do indeed come out next year.

RobertBeWell. The biopsy will give the most important info, the status of your liver. Many here will tell you, prior to treatment, VL is no measurement of your condition other than to say you have HCV. VL becomes important after tx starts as it indicates the body's reaction to the med's.
In case you didn't know, stop drinking NOW. Think about cutting out foods high in iron, like beef.

All the very best to both of you. Robert you came to a good place for help, lots of very knowledgeable and good people here.

[madelefant]

I started this round Friday April 16th.  I sometimes and talking in a speculative way and I think I state things as absolute or fact so I need to work on that.  LOL.  I see my doctor after the 4th week in so I'll see where I stand.   I had been looking over the history of my blood tests and one thing I noticed is my monocytes and a few other things back to normal. As far as I understand monocytes are an indicator of inflamation (inflammation)/chirrosis.  Before my original treatment course (started Oct 2007) a biopsy showed advanced scarring.  My doctor said he thought I had recovery since then even though HCV returned but he wasn't definitive and didn't want to do another biopsy.