Aa
genotype 1 and meds?
My dad was just diagnosed with Hep C a couple months ago. He is going in for his biopsy next week. Today we found out that he has genotype 1, and the doctor told us that because cure rates are so low with Gen1, most people are not even put on the interferon/RRR. This came as a shock to me because I was under the impression that the sustained cure rate was about 50% in those with gen1 after 48 weeks of treatment. I feel very hopeless hearing that they might not put him on meds at all. If anyone has any info on genotype 1 patients and the medications I would be very interested in hearing. What is the outlook if he is not put on any medication?
Day,,,my husband and I are both former 1A's after doing tx for 52 weeks. I think the odds for geno 1's are even higher then 50% and if there is much liver damage,,,some are even going past the recommended 48 weeks of tx. You are on the right track and I think I would definitely find a new dr for your dad that is more acquainted with hep and tx...
I had went to class and they told me survival rate is 80% with treatment...there is a definately chanceof living long life
I had went to class and they told me survival rate is 80% with treatment...there is a definately chanceof living long life
Interesting. Has this internist completed a fellowship in gastroenterology or Hepatology? Regardless, a number of doctors aren’t very proud of the combo treatment due to the lack of efficacy of current meds and the associated side effects.
It’s important to bear in mind that some HCV patients might choose not to treat their illness. One of the determining factors for treatment will be the results of his upcoming biopsy. Many patients do not seem to develop progressive liver disease; if this is your fathers case, the *wise* choice might be to postpone treatment. There are some exciting new HCV drugs currently in development that could possibly change the treatment landscape significantly. Other patients that don’t have liver damage might choose to co-exist with the virus rather than deal with treatment, and many of them will live a full life *with* the disease. Treatment is a very personal decision based on a number of factors- the best move you folks can make is to continue to educate yourselves about this disease. Read all you can, ask questions here as well as other sites, and make sure that you develop a comfortable dialogue with your treating doctor. Some forum members here have changed doc’s mid-treatment; this is a possibility as well.
Some doctors choose not to biopsy GT-2 and 3 patients due to the fact that they respond so well to treatment; the logic is that if a patient intends to enter treatment regardless of liver damage, then the knowledge gained from biopsy is not worth the possible risk associated with the procedure. This position isn’t popular with most patients; most of us fell that the biopsy info is invaluable for a number of reasons, and that the risk/reward analysis is there.
Your Pop is lucky to have you at bat for him; I’m sure he appreciates your efforts. You’re right; there’s a lot to learn about this disease, you’re definitely on the right track. Please continue to ask questions; all of us have been where you are right now- we know the feeling of confusion your dealing with.
Keep us posted as to how things progress and take good care,
Bill
It’s important to bear in mind that some HCV patients might choose not to treat their illness. One of the determining factors for treatment will be the results of his upcoming biopsy. Many patients do not seem to develop progressive liver disease; if this is your fathers case, the *wise* choice might be to postpone treatment. There are some exciting new HCV drugs currently in development that could possibly change the treatment landscape significantly. Other patients that don’t have liver damage might choose to co-exist with the virus rather than deal with treatment, and many of them will live a full life *with* the disease. Treatment is a very personal decision based on a number of factors- the best move you folks can make is to continue to educate yourselves about this disease. Read all you can, ask questions here as well as other sites, and make sure that you develop a comfortable dialogue with your treating doctor. Some forum members here have changed doc’s mid-treatment; this is a possibility as well.
Some doctors choose not to biopsy GT-2 and 3 patients due to the fact that they respond so well to treatment; the logic is that if a patient intends to enter treatment regardless of liver damage, then the knowledge gained from biopsy is not worth the possible risk associated with the procedure. This position isn’t popular with most patients; most of us fell that the biopsy info is invaluable for a number of reasons, and that the risk/reward analysis is there.
Your Pop is lucky to have you at bat for him; I’m sure he appreciates your efforts. You’re right; there’s a lot to learn about this disease, you’re definitely on the right track. Please continue to ask questions; all of us have been where you are right now- we know the feeling of confusion your dealing with.
Keep us posted as to how things progress and take good care,
Bill
Thanks to everyone who responded, it definitely reassured me. I have been doing as much research as I can to learn about Hep C, so I was just dumbfounded when the doctor said my dad would probably not be put on any meds.
BILL: It was actually his Internist that told him this, not his Primary Care doc! Which is another reason I was so shocked and upset to hear it....I thought for sure the Internist would be well informed....
The internist also told him to avoid aspirin and ibuprofen at all costs but to take Tylenol whenever needed.. Again I’m still learning but after some reading it seems that Tylenol is processed in the liver, while ibuprofen is processed in the stomach. I’ve read that Tylenol can be very damaging to the liver.
Also, we were told that if he had Genotype 2 or 3 they would not do a biopsy. Why is this exactly? Wouldn’t they still need to check for cirrhosis?
This all seems so overwhelming, we still have so much to learn. But thanks again for the replies they definitely put me at ease about the situation.
BILL: It was actually his Internist that told him this, not his Primary Care doc! Which is another reason I was so shocked and upset to hear it....I thought for sure the Internist would be well informed....
The internist also told him to avoid aspirin and ibuprofen at all costs but to take Tylenol whenever needed.. Again I’m still learning but after some reading it seems that Tylenol is processed in the liver, while ibuprofen is processed in the stomach. I’ve read that Tylenol can be very damaging to the liver.
Also, we were told that if he had Genotype 2 or 3 they would not do a biopsy. Why is this exactly? Wouldn’t they still need to check for cirrhosis?
This all seems so overwhelming, we still have so much to learn. But thanks again for the replies they definitely put me at ease about the situation.
I’d like to chime in and confirm that the 50% success rate for Geno 1 patients sounds about right from a *statistical* standpoint. There are other factors to consider that can help fine-tune those stats; gender, race, age, viral load, and to some degree existing liver damage. There’s growing evidence that insulin resistance/ metabolic disorder may influence treatment outcome as well. Again, these factors help personalize the statistics slightly; keep in mind that stats reflect the outcome of large groups, but don’t address personal response.
Genotype 1 is the most prevalent strain of HCV in North America, Western Europe, and I believe Japan. 90% of the clinical trials and research done is focused on GT-1. Where your doctor gets his info is beyond me; it certainly doesn’t conform to the current treatment algorithms and Standard Of Care adopted by the medical community at large. Ask his doctor to qualify his statement with studies and facts. Better yet, (I’m assuming he was talking to his primary care doctor) wait and discuss treatment options with a GI doc or Hepatologist. Primary Care docs, although most are well intentioned are generally grossly under informed about HCV.
If you get a few moments, take a look at the following site:
http://janis7hepc.com/
Scroll down and click on any topic of interest in the blue box. There is a wealth of information about this disease available here; including a section devoted to those recently diagnosed. Read through and feel free to ask questions, we’re more than happy to help.
Take care,
Bill
Genotype 1 is the most prevalent strain of HCV in North America, Western Europe, and I believe Japan. 90% of the clinical trials and research done is focused on GT-1. Where your doctor gets his info is beyond me; it certainly doesn’t conform to the current treatment algorithms and Standard Of Care adopted by the medical community at large. Ask his doctor to qualify his statement with studies and facts. Better yet, (I’m assuming he was talking to his primary care doctor) wait and discuss treatment options with a GI doc or Hepatologist. Primary Care docs, although most are well intentioned are generally grossly under informed about HCV.
If you get a few moments, take a look at the following site:
http://janis7hepc.com/
Scroll down and click on any topic of interest in the blue box. There is a wealth of information about this disease available here; including a section devoted to those recently diagnosed. Read through and feel free to ask questions, we’re more than happy to help.
Take care,
Bill
It will all work out. Perhaps he has other medical conditions that need attention too first.. Genotype 1 is the most common and also the most resiliant. I would DEFINITELY find out why this answer was your only answer. It doesnt make sense to me. Genotypes as far as I know do have up to 50%
chance! Thats why we are all here!
Read, learn and get yourself to another hepatologist for another opinion and treatment.
You have many many options here.
You might want to have a biiopsy to know for sure the damage if any to the liver.
You can theen proceed accordingly. Take care and all will be well. Be assertive!! You'll be fine!
chance! Thats why we are all here!
Read, learn and get yourself to another hepatologist for another opinion and treatment.
You have many many options here.
You might want to have a biiopsy to know for sure the damage if any to the liver.
You can theen proceed accordingly. Take care and all will be well. Be assertive!! You'll be fine!
'This came as a shock to me because I was under the impression that the sustained cure rate was about 50% in those with gen1 after 48 weeks of treatment' You are correct. And for the doc to make that blanket statement is not correct. If he's having a biopsy in a week or so the results should be back about two weeks later and then you and pops will likely meet again with the doc. You might consider taking the time to get further information, make a list of questions and take the doc's time until you have your questions answered. By the way, most of the people who are here and are on treatment are Geno 1. You have lots of sources of information here and other informative web sites.
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