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What is the Definition of 'High' Viral Load During Pregnancy/Birth?
I have been trying to research information on the web re: vertical transmission of HCV & viral loads. I noticed there seems to be a correlation between the mother's viral load at the time of birth & transmission to the newborn.
I have been Hep C positive since at least 2000. I gave birth to a son on 9/30/03. My last test for viral load before I gave birth was 7 months prior in March, 2003 & it was 572,000, way up from 188,000 in Sept 2002..VL seemed to spike during my pregnancy & then afterward, dropped to down to 29,500 in March 04, then undetectable June 6 2006 & now I just got more results today, Aug 8th & VL is 5,035, up again.
My question is what is considered a dangerous high VL for a mother while pregnant or giving birth? IS Hep C transmitted intauterinely or during the birth?
Is it possible the pregnancy caused my VL to rise or is that just a coincindence? IS it normal for the ranges to fluctuate so greatly?
Thanks,
Lisa
I have been Hep C positive since at least 2000. I gave birth to a son on 9/30/03. My last test for viral load before I gave birth was 7 months prior in March, 2003 & it was 572,000, way up from 188,000 in Sept 2002..VL seemed to spike during my pregnancy & then afterward, dropped to down to 29,500 in March 04, then undetectable June 6 2006 & now I just got more results today, Aug 8th & VL is 5,035, up again.
My question is what is considered a dangerous high VL for a mother while pregnant or giving birth? IS Hep C transmitted intauterinely or during the birth?
Is it possible the pregnancy caused my VL to rise or is that just a coincindence? IS it normal for the ranges to fluctuate so greatly?
Thanks,
Lisa
VL fluctuates, but you are all over the place. You seem to be the first person with similar sats as me. I was told to be undetectable a few times, and thought virus was gone. Thought I naturally cured. Later, it came back and showed a 5462 VL.. Later, 4000...Now I'm undetectable again, but only after 48 weeks of combo tx.
I am however, one of the lucky few that where infected at birth by mother. I say lucky cause the odds are like 5%.. To bad I couldn't be as lucky picking lottery numbers!! What I was told, is the baby is infected during the birth process, not in the uterus. It happens sometime when the placenta breaks, and baby is on the way out. Having a c-section greatly reduces risk of infection for baby.
Your Vl is very low!!! Very, low!!! In fact, I have only seen reference to maybe one or two people with VL as low as ours.
A mother has a greater possibility of transmitting the virus to her baby if her VL is high..Say in the millions. This would translate to more HCV cells in the blood, or a higher concentration per unit of blood, so in turn a greater likelyhood of transmission..
I am however, one of the lucky few that where infected at birth by mother. I say lucky cause the odds are like 5%.. To bad I couldn't be as lucky picking lottery numbers!! What I was told, is the baby is infected during the birth process, not in the uterus. It happens sometime when the placenta breaks, and baby is on the way out. Having a c-section greatly reduces risk of infection for baby.
Your Vl is very low!!! Very, low!!! In fact, I have only seen reference to maybe one or two people with VL as low as ours.
A mother has a greater possibility of transmitting the virus to her baby if her VL is high..Say in the millions. This would translate to more HCV cells in the blood, or a higher concentration per unit of blood, so in turn a greater likelyhood of transmission..
Heres a link on VL...
<a href="http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/hepatitis/loadchart.html>viral load chart</a>
<a href="http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/hepatitis/loadchart.html>viral load chart</a>
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