Cirrosis

[ellissg]

Has anyone had a Fibrosure Test by Lab Corp.? Since I can't have a Biopsy due to Coumadin, I got that test done and the results came back Stage 4 Cirrosis. This test is not yet FDA approved, and since I have absolutely NO symptoms.....eg fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, abdominal pain, coke colored urine, dark stools, jaundice, spider-like veins, is it possible this isn't accurate? I hated treatment, but if this result is accurate, I'll have to try it again....Geno 2 with a VL of 1,100,000, but at 66 years old, I'm not sure it's the thing to do. Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated. Of course, my Doctor will make the ultimate decision, but before these test results, he said not to treat again.

Thanks............Steve

[scruffy]

Someone said earlier somewhere that the fibrosure test was not that good. Perhaps before deciding to treat again a regular biopsy would be in order. Frank

[scruffy]

Sorry, I missed the coumadin part. Frank

[Christie2004]

Let me just say that your doctor doesn't make the decision whether to treat or not; YOU do.   They can give you information and statistics, but ultimately the decision is yours.  If your doctor doesn't want to treat you and you want to do it, find another doctor.

(My husb. took 2 tries, each one for a year, before finally clearing the virus for good. Genotype 3a.  His doctor said there was no point after the first go-round, but we insisted.)

[Califia]

Here is a positive description of Fibrosure by Thierry Poynard, M.D.,  an important name in international hepatology, who confirms the test's accuracy at lower levels and higher levels of fibrosis:

<a href=http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:OrYf1UdNBM4J:www.bbriefings.com/pdf/1043/LabCorp_tech.pdf+Fibrosure&hl=en&ie=UTF-8>FIBROSURE</a>

What you didn't share with us was your previous level of fibrosis and when it was last measured.   What was the state of your liver after your last tx?  The stage 4 news must come as quite a blow, but there are many people on this list who have demonstrated that you can live successfully with cirrhosis.  There was a time in the not so distant past when cirrhosis was considered irreversible, and a death sentence, but  this is certainly no longer the case.   That said,  sister Chev makes a lot of sense in her reminder about maintenance therapy.   There are solutions at hand--please don't despair.

[mikesimon]

I may be wrong but I recall Scott started at full dose Pegasys and then reduced to 90 mcg after 1 year. Mike

[ellissg]

My level of fibrosis has never been checked until now. My Doctor would not do the biopsy due to bleeding risks. My original VL was 5,000,000. I became negative after 12 weeks Peg/Riba, then had a VL of 120,000 at 24 weeks. Six months later it was 1,200,000.

I'm going to ask him for an Untrasound/MRI. I take really good care of my diet & water intake, but until now, had trouble staying off the alcohol after I became negative at 12 weeks.
Now it's cold turkey time. I noticed that my GGT was elevated as well, so the alcohol is a thing of the past, and, of course, should have been a year ago!!!

Thanks for your post.

[honey1616]

Steve,,,I have heard pros and cons for fibrosure. My dr says that he doesn't like because it is not accurate but Dr Cecil claims that he likes to use them. Maybe talk to your dr about going longer on tx or another alternative.

[TnHepGuy_]

If you are unsure of your results via the FibroSure, would like further confirmation and are unable to receive an invasive bx, then demand that you get the other type of non-invasive test on the market (Fibrospect - by Promethius Labs) for comparison. And while they are at it, have them draw an alpha feta protein (AFP), which can be a marker of ongoing inflamation in Hep C patients - more so in those with increased damage - as well as a tumor marker for HCC. (for further information on AFP, see the thread below titled "afp marker").


May God's blessings and mercy be upon you.


TnHepGuy

[scruffy]

I will kiss the cat till the day I die and if the cat goes first I'll get a new one. Zoey is spunky and give ole gray a kiss. Laugh at life or it will certainly laugh at you. Frank