jim

Jim, could you please give me a link to the 4 week post tx pcr that refers to 90% correlation to svr. Thanks Pam

[jmjm530]

Hi Pam,

Not sure if it was a formal study per say, although maybe someone can find it. I first saw the number posted by one of the internet doctors either Dr. C or one of the visiting doctors over at Hep Neighborhood, or both. It was then confirmed by both my doctor and two other well-known consultant that most relapses occur fairly quickly after you stop the drugs. For that reason, the 4 week post treatment PCR is a benchmark test used by many hepatologists. There is a study, however, that did correlate a negative 3 month post tx with SVR to around 98 per cent. It's out there somewhere and if you need it, I'll try and hunt around. Although some difference of opinion, I started my 4 week count after the last riba pill, not after the last shot. Using this method, I actually did a 3 and 6 week post treatment viral load, but not a 4 week.

How are things going with you?

All the best,

-- Jim

[pln]

Hey Jim,
Thanks, I am doing really good,feel like my old pretreatment self. My hbg did not bounce back at 4 week post but all other labs looked good.
The reason I asked about the 4 week pcr info is my study nurse said she has seen people und at week 4 post and still relaspe.(great)
So I go 3/12 for my 8 week post, just like FLGUY said waiting for labs is also a big side of tx. Thanks again hope you are doing good. Pam

[APKhaos]

That's an easy call. The follow-up testing calendars for all Prove 1 arms include week 8 & week 12 post tx.

My week 8 draw is next Monday.

TX seems like a long time ago, not that we are starting to feel a little more human again, hey Pam?

[jmjm530]

Certainly an 8-week post would give more information than the 4-week, but the most information -- short of your 6 month -- would be the 12-week post treatment viral load test. So, if you're going to do the 8-week, make sure your nurse agrees to also give you a 12-week post treatment test. If for some reason you can't get both, then I personally would just do the 12-week. Just make sure you get the most sensitive test available. A good one is Heptimax by Quest Diagnostics that goes down to 5 IU/ml.

Be well,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Forgot for a second you were in Prove I. Your nurse is correct, people who are non-detectible at week 4 do relapse, maybe like one out of ten. In any event, your 8 and 12 week tests will be more revealing, but you should still be quite optimistic because of your 4 week negative result.

-- Jim

[pln]

APK, yes treatment does seems like a long time ago, and it was only 7 weeks ago. So people their is light at the end of the tunnel.
We need to get through our next two pcr's and we can put this behind us. good luck to you, and please post asap your pcr news. Take Care Pam

Jim, one in ten, pretty good odds. thanks for your help. Pam