My understanding is that 24 weeks is standard for type 2, the easiest to treat. Is there a reason that he thinks it would help. Is the doctor concerned about any factors specific to you (fibrosis level, race, weight?....) Anyway, I hadn't heard this recommendation for type 2, type 3 is getting new strategies though.
This may help if you are a "slow responder" (undetectable between Weeks 4 &12...
"Understanding HCV Nonresponse and Identifying Candidates for Retreatment
Source: New Management Strategies for HCV Nonresponders and Relapsers"
By: Mitchell L. Shiffman, MD - Chief of the Hepatology Section and Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Program at the VCU Medical Center for over a decade.
"Approximately 25% of patients with genotypes 2 or 3 do not achieve an RVR but later achieve undetectable HCV RNA between Weeks 4 and 12. It is important to recognize that only 49% of patients with this response achieve an SVR when treated for 24 weeks.[3] It is therefore rational to assume that prolonging the duration of therapy from 24 to 48 weeks in these slow-to-respond genotype 2 and 3 patients may reduce relapse and enhance SVR rates, and a retrospective analysis supports this hypothesis.[21] Unfortunately, no prospective studies have yet addressed this important issue."
3. Shiffman ML, Suter F, Bacon BR, et al. Peginterferon alfa 2a and ribavirin for 16 or 24 weeks in HCV genotype 2 or 3. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:124 134.
21. Willems B, Hadziyannis SJ, Morgan TR, et al. Should treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin be intensified in patients with HCV genotype 2/3 without a rapid virological response? Program and abstracts of the 42nd Annual European Association for the Study of the Liver; April 11-25, 2007; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract 8.
Cheers!
Hector
Hello everyone I'm new here but have been reading for about 2 months now and so glad I found some people that r going through what I'm about to endure not that I'm glad for anyones illness but glad u all came here to help us new people out I'm 45 femail hepatitis c type 2 getting ready to start treatment sometime next week on pegasys can someone please tell me this stuff is not gonna kill me I'm very scared never even been sick before