Steatosis, early cirrhosis and treatment ?

[22hamilton]

I was just wondering whether anyone in the forum has undergone successful treatment with gen1, steatosis and early cirrhosis.I gather my chances are very poor at getting a response with treatment. Has amyone successfully treated or been able to improve their steatosis in anyway ? This steatosis thing feels like the last straw, I'm so fed up with getting bad news.
Thanks for listening.
Hammond

[eureka254]

Sorry to hear you got more bad news, but you are most certainly not alone.  
My husband is currently treating, and like you, he had the odds stacked against him: geno 1, cirrhosis, steatosis... he was given pretty poor odds at start (docs said 25% chance for him initially), but his viral response to the treatment was surprisingly good, (he's on Alinia along with Pegasys and Ribavirin), and they've increased his odds now to better than 50% odds.  Of course, we won't know for quite some time (his treatment won't end until March 2010) whether he sustains "cure" or not, but it's like the lottery, can't win if you don't play (or pay).  Good luck. ~eureka

[jdwithhcv]

As JennyPenny said, diet and exercise will help with the steatosis.  Good luck.
jd

[dabdees]

How would you know for certain that over use of naproxen is the sole reason you have cirrhosis?  You state you've had hepc for 38 years.  It stands to reason your liver would be damaged before naproxen use unless you had a biopsy prior to the 2 yr use of the NSAID.  It's misleading to tell people naproxen killed your liver unless the pathologist who did the biopsy can distinguish between cirrhosis caused by hepc and cirrhosis caused by naproxen.  Liver damage is liver damage.  Doubt you'll see a marked improvement in your liver histology post 1 yr either.  Prudent thing to do if you are SVR is to wait at least 2-3 years.  

With all do respect I've read some of your posts and at times the information is correct but many times I cannot follow your logic. It's always best to look before you leap.

dabdees

[newleaf09]

I want the rebiopsy.The first one was easy so now I won't be terrrified.  Being diagnosed with cirrhosis was such a shock for me.  Lived amiably with the darn virus for 38 years and then had my liver killed by taking high doses of naproxen for several years. Stopped the naproxen, cleared the virus. I have very big plans for my future and want to know that my risks have dropped.  The only way I will comfortably move on is having physical proof that it is over.  Dr. recommended that I wait one year after EOT to get the best indication.  He will make the request because, naturally, he is very curious.

Newleaf

[22hamilton]

Best of luck to you mate, and everyone else on this forum !
hamilton

[Rockerforlife]

Just because you have fayy liver does not mean you cant be cured,its just reduceds the odds i have read,lose body fat and this will also keep the liver from being fatty.Tthere is also dofferent stages of fatty liver,mine is or was in the mild stages.Im still UN 4 wks post TX and will find out in 10 more days if i am stii UD at 3 months post TX

I have all body parts crossed.


The art of government is the organization of idolatry."

[nygirl7]

Sorry I meant to say stage not grade but my mind is busy working and I wasn't thinking.

Anyway - do the best you can and take care of the precious liver you have.  That in the end Hamilton is the best that we can  do but they will never be brand new shiny livers.  Heck took me 25 years to damage mine as much as I did now I'm just hoping it doesn't get any worse.  That would be just fine with me.

[nygirl7]

More than likely you will see some histological improvement but not a complete reversal in any way after SVR.  Please do not over grasp and believe that just because you get SVR your liver goes back to stage 0.  There is no evidence that this will happen.

The best we can hope for is to get SVR and liver a liver healthy life so that MORE damage does not occur.  I've never heard of anyone really going back more than 1 grade who has been biopsied.

[FlGuy]

Assuming that you achieve svr (if you have not already reached the 6 month post mark) why is the doc contemplating a biopsy?  If there no other conditions other than fibrosis/cirrhosis and/or fatty liver why in the world would the doc consider a biopsy?  Is it curiosity?

[22hamilton]

Oh well thanks for that newleaf, thats more encouraging for me.Its a bad place when all options look blocked.Dood luck.
Hammond

[JennyPenny]

Diet and exercise will help the steatosis no matter the cause. Try to get that under control. You might want to wait for the PI's in 2011 even though you have cirrhosis. As you know I've been here a lot of years with cirrhosis and no response to treatment.

[newleaf09]

I have (had?) both cirrhosis and steatosis and geno 1.   I was very responsive to IFN and cleared immediately on SOC, but also had 24 weeks of boceprevir, which pretty much locked in the SVR.  I will rebiopsy in June and see if the cirrhosis and steatosis (fatty liver) have resolved.  Have not heard of any other treatment for steatosis except maybe dietary.

[22hamilton]

No I'm a non responder Bill. As for the liver fat I understand it can be produced by hep c as well as diet. If its the hep c thats causing fatty liver will exercise be effective, am pretty chewed up with all this because I know liver fat is the cause of treatment poor outcomes.
I dont feel as if I have the full picture from the hospital or any optimism about future treatment offers, I'm tired of waiting , meanwhile my condition's getting worse.

Sorry for going on
Hammond

[Bill1954]

Hi Hammond,

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I don’t believe you’re unique in having fatty liver; I imagine you have lots of company in that department. We have lots of folks that have treated with genotype 1 and early cirrhosis here; some of them successfully. I had genotype 1, grade 3, stage 3/4, and possibly transitional to cirrhosis (I had hepatosplenomegaly per U/S scan in late 2004). I also have diabetes type 2, which is a poor predictor for SVR, but I’ve been clear of virus now for over a year.

I see you’ve had two previous attempts at treatment? Did you respond and relapse or were you a null responder? If you don’t have any signs of decompensation, perhaps you can qualify for a trial with one of the protease inhibitors?

Best--

Bill