So many questions

[UKdad]

Hi to all

My partner was diagnosed with HCV but the test results wwhich include a pcr? test were done nearly three years ago, it is a very long story to explain why but she has only just plucked up the courage to find the results to them.  When the healthcare worker explained the result to her it was all such a worldwind that the only things that we took away from the diagnosis was that she at the time feb 2002 was antibody positive and had acute hepatitis.

Please help could somebody explain, does this go on to become chronic?

[Tallblonde]

An acute case of Hepatitis C become a chronic case when the virus is detectable for six months or longer.  Although 15-20 percent of people spontaneously clear the virus during the acute phase, less than 2 percent spontaneously clear it once it becomes chronic.

Sounds like it's time for your partner to find our her/his genotype and get a biopsy in order to begin making some decisions on how to best deal with this situation.

Good luck to you both.

Susan

[layla]

An acute stage of hepatitis is when you very first get it. As was mentioned above some people clear it on their own. If this happens you are left with antibodies which does not mean you have the disease just that you had it at one time. For example when you get a vaccination for a disease such as hep a or hep b you are then left with antibodies in your system not the disease. If it is croninc then you have the actual disease. If you actually have HCV you would have a VL, viral load.  You should ask your doc for HCV test and go from there. If you have any questions feel free to ask here. Someone will always help you though it is sometimes slow on weekends. LL