stages

[Brilorra]

sorry forgot to add, what are these stages and how does one find out what ones status is?  i see everyone is stage 1 or 4 - so how do we go about finding out that part of it all

thanx

leslie

[Brilorra]

Hello

I am so grateful for your patience and knowledge and thank you for all your amazing input.  i am new here and learning to use all the sites, janis included. i will be passing all this information along to my husband and doctors.  i am trying very hard myself to be one step ahead and knowledgable of the lingo.  this is a detailed disease but i am getting it now thanks to all you wonderful people who are willing to help others.

i will try to slow down on the postings  - lol

have a wonderful day

leslie

[Bill1954]

Hi Leslie,

Stage and grade are determined by biopsy. There are several scales in use currently; the most widely used in industrialized nations now is probably the ‘Metavir’ grading system. The degree of fibrosis, or scarring is measured on a scale of 0 through 4; with stage 4 signaling cirrhosis. This staging system tells us how much scarring has already occurred.

There is also a similar measurement that quantifies the current activity of inflammation; scored A0 through A3, I believe.

So, for instance, my last biopsy showed grade 3 activity, stage 3-4; significant fibrosis/scarring.

This is how the progression of disease is measured, rather than using viral load measurements to judge how far the disease has gotten.

See also:

http://janis7hepc.com/home9.htm

For more info on grade and stage of liver disease.

Best to you and your husband—

Bill