Viral load and tx

[HassanHelmy]

I have a high VL (1,400,000 IU), I am genotype 4, 43 age, 0-1 degree inflammaion (Fibro-test). I read that relapse is likely with high VL, my question is: is it better to have the interferon + ribavirin for three months and stop due to non-respondance, or stay without therapy? Thanks in advance

[gauf]

Nothing like a Little Debbie to perk ya up!

[gauf]

Those monitor guys need a debbie real bad.

[debnevada]

I double dog dare you to go to the GYN forum and start it all over again!!!

I agree on the J beam.  We are getting a little more monitored than I would like but I guess that's why they call it a moderated board...

[jmjm530]

Do you have the link? Maybe we can start all over again. Just kidding. BTW that J.Beam thread seems to have hit the dust as well. Too bad, because I think the author intended no harm, just some irony.

-- Jim

[debnevada]

hey jim notice the amusing thread of yesterday has disappeared. I found it on a GYN thread with all our comments gone!!!

heehee

[debnevada]

har har har.......

[jmjm530]

debbie: I can tell you that the Gish uses the G 1 benchmarks.
-------------------------
Be careful of those painful "benchmarks" when filming with the other Debbie :)

[debnevada]

as a geno 4, I can tell you that the Gish uses the G 1 benchmarks.
deb

[jmjm530]

Depending on what chart you read, your viral load is either "medium" or "high" with low sometimes lableled under a million, under 800,000, under 600,000 or under 400,000. Again, depending. That said,  most people  treat with medium or high viral load and therefore your viral load of 1.4 million should not stop you from treating.

Not all that up on Fibrotest, but unless you're hell bent on treating now -- and even then -- I'd suggest either a traditional needle biopsy or the newer Fibroscan (if available) to better gauge how much liver damage you have.

If it turns out you have little or no liver damage, consider waiting for some of the newer drugs such as Teleprevir, which appears to be doing very well in trials for genotype 1's, and should be tested on other genotypes in the future. Or, if after researching it out, you decide to treat anyway, I believe your chances of SVR (success) are about the same as geno 1's, which would be 40-50% using Peg and ribavirin.

All the best,

-- Jim

[charm27]

Thats so good to hear your finding tx doable. I hope Im as lucky as you are in that respect.
I am1A and have a 8 mil VL. Will be starting within a couple of weeks. I would assume the high VL and genotype I have is not a plus for me. I have my fingers & toes crossed.

Out of curiosity is 4 genotype harder to eradicate than 1A or 1B?

Thanks

[mremeet]

You don't have a high VL, that's low-average (there are some people with VL's 20-40 times higher than yours and they managed to SVR fine). And likelihood to relapse is something you gage after you start treatment. If you respond quickly and well to the drugs within a certain timeframe (preferably become undetectable within 4 weeks), then depending on how the rest of your treatment goes, you have an excellent chance of beating the virus (at least with geno 1, 2 and 3). You should also know there's a drug that's already on the market called Alinia that has recently been tested with interferon and riba on genotype 4's, and it shows excellent antiviral performance. Plus since it's already available, you might be able to access it sooner rather than later. Stay tuned and keep checking the internet for alinia info, data should be released soon. Also there are protease inhibitors like Telaprevir on the way, probably within 2-3 years. If you have minimal fibrosis, you could easily wait out these newer developments. Take care...

[Terrylee8]

You could go either way, your call. I have decided to treat and I'm 22 weeks in.  It hasn't been all that bad to date, quite doable.  I think it depends on  how the sx's are for you and weather you clear the virus early or not.  My plan was to give it a go and if the sx's were bad or I didn't clear, I would quit.  Cleared at 8 weeks and the sx's are minimal to moderate so I'm glad to be treating.