Ok, I got a copy of my lab results, any insights?

[greendesert07]

Ok, so here is the part that has to do with the hepatitis.   It seems to me that they did do the PCR thing right?  Does this mean I need to go ahead with the biopsy?  
Also the doctor is having me do another lab (panel 083824) which I found out is the test for HIV.  Is this standard procedure?  or does he think I'm not being straight with him and I've been messing around?

Hepatic Function Panel (6)
  Albumin, Serum  4.1 g/dL
  Bilirubin, Total              0.3 mg/dL
  Bilirubin, Direct             0.11 mg/dL
  Alkaline Phosphatase, S       52 IU/L
  AST (SGOT)   58 IU/L
  ALT (SGPT)   76 IU/L
Hep B Surface Ab  11.0
  GGT    25
  HBsAg Screen    Negative

NGI HCV QuantaSure
  Hepatitis C Quantitation 4100000  Copies/mL
  HCV log10   6.613   Log10copy/mL
  HCV Quant (IU/mL)    1640000 IU/mL
PCR Amplification + Detection  Performed
Prothrombin Time (PT)
  INR    1.0
HCV Genotyping Non Reflex
  Hepatitis C Genotype  1b

[HectorSF]

Many times HIV, hep A, hep B and many other contagious viruses/diseases are looked for when a person has hep c. It is good to get tested so you know your current status.

For more information about what these results mean please talk to your doctor. It is their job to explain to you anything you don't understand.

The AST and ALT tests show that your liver's cells are releasing enzymes because your liver cells are being damaged or killed by some disease or condition. Which is another indication that hepatitis c is active and is damaging your liver as shown by your viral load.

The tests below show how well your liver is functioning. According to your results your liver is able to perform all of its functions (* that are measured) properly. Making albumin, bilirubin and clotting factor.

The good news is that if you had extensive liver damage (cirrhosis) the following tests usually would be above or below norms. Yours are within norms which is what you want.
As someone else mentioned it would good to see your platelet count also which would help confirm the status of your liver and spleen which can indicate if one has cirrhosis.

Albumin, Serum           4.1 g/dL
Bilirubin, Total              0.3 mg/dL
Bilirubin, Direct             0.11 mg/dL  
Prothrombin Time (PT)   ???
INR                              1.0


Best luck.
Hectorsf

[Bill1954]

Your platelet (PLTS) results would be listed in the ‘CBC (complete blood count) along with red cell, white cells, hemoglobin, etc.

Welcome to the discussion group, by the way; sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. To help you understand some of the nomenclature here, I’ll link a list of abbreviations and acronyms. This is also available in the lower right side of this page in a box titled, ‘most viewed health pages’. You might want to print this for future reference:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Hepatitis/Common-Hepatitis-C-Acronyms/show/3?cid=64

-Bill

[greendesert07]

hmm I don't know abou platelets.  what codeword would that be under?  there's another lab sheet with stuff about Ferritin serum,

[RobertBeWell]

Looks like pretty typical lab work for a Hep C patient.

[Bali05]

did they do platelets ?

[Bill1954]

Two quick comments:

Medhelp’s software doesn’t deal well with the ‘less than’ and ‘greater than’ arrows. If the software is deleting portions of your post that includes these symbols, they’re likely the culprit. I’ve found the best way to deal with it is to replace a ‘<’ with the written term, “less than”.

Also, I believe your viral load is probably better expressed as 1,640,000 IU/mL, not the 4,100,000 posted as copies/mL. They are both correct, but the former is used most frequently these days.

Good luck,

Bill

[greendesert07]

thanks so much for the comments Trinity and nygirl.   (btw, I give up on tryig to get the lab results to display properly.  the HepB SurfaceAb part is actualy 0.1 and the Hep C is 11.0, but this website is mesed up the way it chops out stuff that is being pasted into a message).
I guess I'll go ahead with the biopsy... i think :)
scares the crap out of me though.

[greendesert07]

hmm, for some reason this thing modifies the stuff that I pasted in
trying again to paste just the portion in the middle that got pasted wrong:

Hep B Surface Ab 11.0

  GGT 25

  HBsAg Screen Negative



NGI HCV QuantaSure ...
the rest is ok

[Trinity4]

You have a viral load of 4,100,000 and you're genotype is 1b.  Viral load is average and most of those infected in the US are genotype 1.  Your liver enzymes are a little elevated which is common with chronic hepc.  My thinking is if you were in the acute stage enzymes would be very high.

Many times a GI or hepatologist will order an HIV test just as a precaution.  Co-infection comes with it's own set or problems so they want to rule out any other factors that may cause problems if one chooses to undergo antiviral therapy.

By all means, have the biopsy so that you can make an informed decision on how to move forward.   If biopsy shows very little fibrosis you may want to consider the "watch and wait" approach regarding treatment.  It usually takes many years of infection for the liver to reach advanced fibrosis.  If you don't want to co-exist with the virus and you feel the time is right for treatment better drugs are expected to be released this summer.
Ups the odds of cure from around 45% to 75%

Always ask for copies of all your medical tests, including the biopsy report.  It would be in your best interest to consult with a hepatologist or a GI who has treated many with hepc.

You're not in this alone, there are plenty of us out here all in the same boat and many who have been cured and moved on with their lives.

Trinity

[nygirl7]

Yes it appears that they did the right tests and you are a geno1b so that typically with standard of care medicine that is out right now means 48 weeks of treatment.

What you want to find out is how much liver damage you have so you can determine if you have time to wait for the meds that will give you a better chance of success (as a geno1 is roughly under 50% currently).  Dont sweat it too much though I had 1A and 1B and have been cured over four years.  With the new drugs the odds will go up to 75-80% so.........if you have the time it's worth seeing what happens.

[greendesert07]

OOPS  it looks like when I pasted it, something got messed up.  Here it is again.  Please disregard the last one:
Hepatic Function Panel (6)
  Albumin, Serum  4.1 g/dL
  Bilirubin, Total              0.3 mg/dL
  Bilirubin, Direct             0.11 mg/dL
  Alkaline Phosphatase, S       52 IU/L
  AST (SGOT)   58 IU/L
  ALT (SGPT)   76 IU/L
Hep B Surface Ab  11.0
  GGT    25
  HBsAg Screen    Negative

NGI HCV QuantaSure
  Hepatitis C Quantitation 4100000  Copies/mL
  HCV log10   6.613   Log10copy/mL
  HCV Quant (IU/mL)    1640000 IU/mL
PCR Amplification + Detection  Performed
Prothrombin Time (PT)
  INR    1.0
HCV Genotyping Non Reflex
  Hepatitis C Genotype  1b