HCV issues /theory to discuss.

[52TELE]

I wanted to throw these two items out there to see if anyone has any comments .

Theory 1
Over the course of 20-30 years , the virus has adapted itself to the hosts body and physiology and it is somehow "personalized" to each infected host. This could be the cause of one of two people  with identical stats and the same treatment protocol to clear the virus and the other not.

Theory 2
Clearing the virus and reaching SVR is directly related to time of treatment and possibly not as much on the meds used to treat. If we treat with say PEG/RIBA and reach a  UND status , it becomes a waiting game that ends with the last man standing the winner. If we can somehow stay the course of treatment until the last virion is gone , we won. The problem is that there is no way of determining when that moment might be.

Currently , our treatment options are more like a close NBA game where the team holding the ball when the buzzer goes off , wins.  Out of time. 40% of the time its us , 60% of the time its the virus. I understand completely why we have to identify some X number for the course of treatment to develop and follow a protocol , but its possibly not long enough and it could be something that has to do with theory 1 above.

[copyman]

very well thought out 52. that is a great theory and makes sense.

[jboyhk]

I think theory 1 may have more to do with genetics than the virus. The virus is just an RNA strand that is just replicating. Its really your own immune system attacking the liver cells where the virus is replicating that is doing the damage. Not the virus.