Liver Biopsy results

I have had only 1 Liver biopsy done about 5 yrs ago.  I started TX for 2nd time aroung 6/18/07 and they said it wasn't necessary to do another biopsy that I should just start TX; so I did.  I recently asked my Dr. what stage etc. was my liver biopsy.  She said I was mild fibrosis stage 1 and that i was probably stage 2 now.  I also asked her that when i completed my TX would they do a biopsy to see how my liver looked and she said "no."

Does anyone know if I should want to have another biopsy or not?  How important is it?  What if i finish TX and am UND and reach an SVR and my fibrosis has progressed to lets say stage 3 or 4?

Feeling a little concerned.  I want to be proactive and informed and be able to insist on a biopsy IF i should when TX is completed...

[jmjm530]

If you reach SVR a biospy really isn't necessary and hopefully your liver damage will regress from an estimated stage 2 to stage 1 or better. If treatment isn't successful, you probably should get a new biopsy since the one you have is five years old. These are just general comments and your individual case may be differfent. Most of us are not doctors here, just patients.

-- Jim

[frijole]

One of the biggest factors in liver improvement is getting rid of the heptitis C.  Once that is done, the liver can start to heal.  If you were to get a biopsy shortly after completing TX, it could quite possibly show that there was no improvement -- it may take months or years for the liver to heal itself.  

I recently had a post tx biopsy -- but I had not cleared.  That biospy, done about 16 moths post tx showed that my liver was in about the same stage/grade as it was 3 years ago before I started tx.

Your liver may or may not have progressed from the biopsy you had 5 years.  I have probably been infected since about 1970 and still am at grade 1/ stage 1.  Since you probably don't have too much damage, I agree with Jim that a post tx bx would merely be for curiosity's sake and not medically necessary.

frijole

[copyman]

you could always get a fibroscan. these machines should be in more locations this year when FDA finally approves it.

[TeeVee36]

Thank you for your responses.  

copyman, thanks i will make an inquiry about the fibroscan w my Dr.

TV

[burned74]

regarding fibroscan, thanks to Jim (Thanks again Jim for all your time that you have devoted to this forum) i was able to locate one in Boston (Beth Isreal Deaconess)  I was set to go up and get one done but they are still in trials and will not give one unless you have had a liver biopsy within the past three years. Its been 3 years 4 months for me so they wouldn't do it. he said it would be about a year before they could include the general public.

[jmjm530]

I could be wrong, but it at least used to be either you had a biopsy in the last three years OR you planned on having a biopsy within a certain time frame. Since you haven't had one in over three years, it's possible you might plan on getting one in the future? In any event, you might double-check this with the trial coordinator as requirements appear to change since I believe there was one than one trial going on.

-- Jim