hep c viral load

[sicknscared]

i have a viral load of 1030000. i know this is very high and i am very worried. does anyone know what the cut off point is for positive treatment reaction or am i so far gone that i am needing transplant or on top of liver failure?
what side affects should i look forward to good or bad while being treated for 48 weeks. please help me understand.

is a viral load of 1030000 even considered treatable?

[Linda5758]

I've never heard of 76 weeks!  48 seems almost intolerable

[hrsepwrguy]

Viral loads fluctuate daily so being higher a year later is really no big deal also higher viral load doesn't = more liver damage, your viral load will only become relevant if you decide to treat the virus, then it is used to gauge your response to treatment.

"Also...is it possible to get rid of the disease with treatment?"

Yes it is, there are no 100% cures at this time but the chances for all genotypes are about 70 to 80% with the current treatment options available

[quayle]

Well son over the years mine has been anywhere for 6.5 million to 7.5million

[abenso11]

I was first diagnosed in November of 2011 with a viral load of 420 and this November of 2012, my viral load is 120,000...I drank heavily for 6 months during the last year and the other 6 months I did not drink at all.  Does drinking increase your viral load?  Also...is it possible to get rid of the disease with treatment?

[Tjam]

I started my 2nd treatment protocol 5 weeks ago. This time I will be initiating Vertex Vociprevir--if my VLL has registered a one log drop from its pre-treatment level of 16,000,000. That means I have to reach 1.6 mil. to begin the protease inhibitor. I am also a type 1 non-responder and in 2009 I thought everything was okay. At week 12 my VLL was still dropping, but at week 14, it started up again and my treatment was discontinued. Now, at week two of the 2-drug protocol (peginteferon and ribavirin) my VLL had dropped by 50% to 8mil. Tomorrow I will get the results of the week 4 labs. If I hit that one log drop to 1.6mil I can start the Vociprevir for 12 weeks. I'm just putting all this data out there to show how much the HEP C virus can vary from person to person. As far as side effects, I have had minimal problems compared with my first treatment, but I know my hemoglobin is dropping and I'll likely need Procrit soon after starting the vociprevir. My low hmgb. in 2009 was 4.0 and that feels real strange. So don't base your treatment response on anyone else's and don't worse-case your situation. I've been waiting for this protease inhibitor for two years, thinking it would be a magic bullet--which I believe to a certain extent it will be. The best chance for any Gen 1 is to do everything you can to take care of yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually; beyond that, it is imperative to follow your Dr.'s direction, and never act independently of his treatment plan--with this caveat: If you trust your Dr. and agree with his approach to treatment, then stick with it. If you can't keep from tweaking things because "you have an idea about this or that," then DIY and let your Dr. move on to another patient. IMHO.  

[atuk624]

i have question for you, u said it is the indicator of how active is the virus, so high viral load is very active, and it means it damages ur liver faster and faster. is it right?

[atuk624]

im reading these comments, so if someone has low vl with high liver damage, this one is worst right? is it right? and what if someone has high vl with little damage? what does it mean?

[Diane12855]

My viral load went from 6 mil to 120,000 the first 2 weeks of treatment.... I'm 1a, stage 2 grade 2... been infected 25 years.

Don't let your numbers freak you out... get your biopsy to be sure about the amount of damage your liver has suffered. Then learn as much as you can. We were all scared when we first found out, but with hep c... knowledge is power and much more... it is peace of mind too.

Read, read, read......

[FlGuy]

From your other post it seems that hubby has had hcv for a while.  A chronic HCV infection is one that has been around six months.  Viral load naturally go up and down all the time, even by the millions. So, because the last one was lower does not mean the next one will be. Fluctuation happens. And, just because it may be low does not necessarily mean it's good. Use the herbs in a spagetti sauce and get him fully evaluated by a liver do.  Clearing a chronic hcv infection on ones own is almost lottery ticket rare.

[sugarcookies]

If  there is a  significant  log drop  & it keeps on dropping to very low when do you know you are cured of Hep c - 1A altogether gone ??

[merryBe]

viral load is only an indicator of how active the virus is, you could have little or no liver damage yet.
you will need a biopsy to know whether your liver is shot or very treatable.

a higher load may mean you've had the virus longer, it may mean you'll need treatment a little longer, 76 wks, vs. 48.

But it doesn't mean you aren't treatable, or shouldn't treat. the best indicator of success is your log drop when you begin treatment.If you reach a 2 log drop in the first 12 weeks, it means the treatment is succeeding in killing your virus. for you, a 2 log drop would mean 140,000.
many people drop that much in 4 wks, but you are allowed 12 to reach that. If you don't it means you are not responding to the treatment. At which time you start praying for the next trial drug to become available.

you shouldn't be worrying, but do start getting lots of rest, water, no party night, no smoking, especially no pot, and no alcohol. Alcohol and pot increase fibrosis times 10.

here's a good site for viral loads:

http://www.janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm

[hcv spooked]

Does anyone understand this Log value and viral load. Mine is 7 and I hear this is high. Something like 14 million? This is freaking me out.l

[m-l]

this may not be working anymore but these comments are really helpful when one has just started treatment to be told for the first time that viral load is over a million and v high plus knowing that am at stage 6 fibrosis.
keep positive comments going as these far more helpful in keeping moral up!
m-l

[drk30]

my docs just called and said my genotype is 2b with a viral load is 1,580,000--i haven't had the biopsy yet--i am to see them in 2 weeks--what happens next?---i really don't know what to expect in the near future--

[tulsatime]

Viral load goes up and down. It does not mean more damage. Only a biopsy can determine the damage to liver. My VL was 5 million last time I started treatment. 6 months after stopping treatment mine was 39 million. Then 6 months later was 2 million the start of this treatment. VL only is important to determine if treatment is working. Don't worry about your VL in fact that is low. Get a biopsy that way you can decide if you need treatment or can wait for better drugs coming out soon. Take care best of luck to you... Debi

[headsrtails]

Viral Load in eq/ml

Classification Remarks
below 200.000 very low/below detection limit of bDNA test

200,000-1,000,000 low  

1,000,000-5,000,000 medium
average viral load at 3,200,000 eq/ml

5,000,000-25,000,000 high  
above 25,000,000 very high  

[APKhaos]

My VL immediately before treatment was 27,500,000. Stage 3 liver damage. I have had HCV since 1974 [diagnosed and treated for acute HepA back then, but found out all those years later that I'm non-reactive for Hep A and B, so it was HCV right from the start!

[Penelope1911]

This page may help you understand the viral loads, among other questions you may have. You actually have what is considered a low VL (under 2 million). Please follow the advice in the comments above, about a doc just for the Hep C and treatment (tx) and know that you are not alone in this. I wish there was something someone could say to ease your fears. Educating yourself should really help, and visiting and taking the support offered in these forums. Be well, and welcome to the forum.

http://www.janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm

[mremeet]

That's not a high viral load, very average to low actually. If you were just maybe a 100,000 or so lower you'd be considered to have a low viral load. Plus as the others have stated, your VL doesn't mean a thing as far as being "too far gone". You can have a viral load 20-70 times higher than yours and have virtually no damage, or someone with even lower VL than yours can have cirrhosis. The only way to know where you stand is to get a biopsy and see where you're at. But don't be afraid in the meantime, HCV moves slow and usually takes a long time to get to that point. Take it one step at a time and get yourself checked out. Then consider your options. Best of luck.

[honey11]

Hey Sick,,,,Yes treatable!  Mine was 8.5 mil and did tx and am SVR! The viral load fluctuates back and forth so don't put alot into that.

[Pdilly]

Get a good Heptologist or Gastrointologist.  They will do a biopsy (really nothing to it and bring a good book).  That way there is no more guessing and all the cards are on the table. I deal knowing the facts myself better than playing the guessing game.  Good luck and keep in touch.

[SixtiesSage]

SNS,
   Viral load means nothing as far as liver damage goes. Sometimes people with the lowest viral load have the worst liver damage. This is because there is not much liver left, and the virus just can't survive without it. Therefore the only way to tell is to have a biopsy. What they do is find a suitable place to stick a small pin into the liver. Then they take a "core sample" from the hole the pin made. Thats it! More scary than painful. After that, best to have a genotype test to then decide weather or not to treat. I have talked to people with viral loads 10 times what yours is and their biopsy showed almost no damage so don't be too scared about your situation!