Viral load

[shawzam]

My starting viral load was 100 million. Tx Interferon Pegasys 180/1 week/1 year starting March '07.  8 month viral load down to 30 million.  Dr. wants to do second round of tx.  How high or low are these viral loads?  Is there a "typical" viral load?  What does the viral load need to be to d/c treatment?  What other markers are there, if any, that determine continued tx?

I know my type of HBV but I can't remember which one it is right now.

Thanks tons.
~shawzam

[kcrandy]

i was kind of wondering what type he has too.

[jmjm530]

The advice above is for Hepatitis C. You state you have Hepatitis B. Is that correct? Different animal. Different treatment.

-- Jim

[kcrandy]

welcome to the group.

i hope your doc is a gi specialist and or hepatoligist.  this is the best doc to help you with tx. did you have a liver biopsy done if so can you share what the outcome was.  and what some of the blood work other than vl count.  from what i can gather from being in this group your vl will shoot around up and down with hepc.  but as stated ealier once tx starts it should start going down prefferably undetectable after 4 weeks and or 12 weeks.  some in here recomend a vl count b4 the first shot then another after 4weeks and if not und once a week after 12 weeks until und is achieved, then apprx every 3 months after und is achieved.

you are about to start a journey towards recovery from hepc and you will have some ups and downs along the way, but you will find there are many in this group who will be here pulling for you along the way.

i pray you will achieve sustained viral response ( svr ) at the end of your journey.

see you around.  

[charm27]

My starting VL was 75 million. I was told my by hepatolgist that your VL goes up to 100million. As far as I know your VL has no bearing on treatment.

The best scenario is  to be undected by your 4 week PCR test. Second best is to be undected by 12 weeks. Some people clear at 24 weeks and go on to 72 weeks of treament verses 48 weeks all depending on your genotype.

If the virus is still detected at 24 weeks I was told I would have to stop treament and my chances of SVR would be almost nil.
Charm27