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Interferon for HBV Question
I started tx for BOTH HCV AND HBV in April. Peg Intron and 1200 Ribavirin.(Dr switched me to Pegasys/ Riba after 1 month cause he said it would work better for HBV).
The nurse called this morning and gave me the results of my 4 week Heptimax test. Great news… I am undetectable for BOTH HCV and HBV.
I knew I stood a good chance to be UND for Hep C with my geno type (2a), but I had no idea what to expect with regards to Hep B. I have mainly been concentrating on Hep C and don’t really understand too much about Hep B yet. Trying to concentrate on one thing at a time.
I know most people don’t go through Interferon treatment for HBV, so I was wondering if I have a chance to clear the HBV along with the HCV seeing as how I’m UND at 4 weeks?
I would appreciate any input on treating HBV with interferon and chances of getting rid of it if any.
BTW, I think I contracted the 2 viruses at different times and often wonder if my body would have cleared the HBV on its own if it my immune system wasn’t already compromised from the HCV.
Thanks,
NashPred
The nurse called this morning and gave me the results of my 4 week Heptimax test. Great news… I am undetectable for BOTH HCV and HBV.
I knew I stood a good chance to be UND for Hep C with my geno type (2a), but I had no idea what to expect with regards to Hep B. I have mainly been concentrating on Hep C and don’t really understand too much about Hep B yet. Trying to concentrate on one thing at a time.
I know most people don’t go through Interferon treatment for HBV, so I was wondering if I have a chance to clear the HBV along with the HCV seeing as how I’m UND at 4 weeks?
I would appreciate any input on treating HBV with interferon and chances of getting rid of it if any.
BTW, I think I contracted the 2 viruses at different times and often wonder if my body would have cleared the HBV on its own if it my immune system wasn’t already compromised from the HCV.
Thanks,
NashPred
peginterferon is a kind of interferon. Ribavarin is used only for HCV, not for HBV. In any case, you cannot get these without a prescription. Not everyone needs it, not everyone chooses it over other options, and not everyone is capable of tolerating it. Go to a regular doctor: he will ask you to do a bunch of tests. These tests are very important to find out how badly you are affected by it, and whether you need medicines, and what kind of medicines you can start.
Regarding, Interferon treatment. Is Peg Intron some kind of interferon treatment?.what about Pegasys/Riba which you have had last taken prior to your HBV UND result, is this also interferon?. Does it mean that you still be a positive to HBV only for the fact that your not dtected.One forum member from Philippines narrated about the disapperance of his
HBV after 3-months of medication using GODEX Capsule and CMD(concentrated Mineral Drops) mixed with lemon juice. How would you comment on this?..\My attention is now on Pegassys/Riba as mentioned earlier. How do we apply that?.Is this going to be
injected or taken orally?.You know, Ive been treating my HBV using herb for 7 months now but the result is discouraging.My hbs value fluctuates up and down on the range of 0.02.
HBV after 3-months of medication using GODEX Capsule and CMD(concentrated Mineral Drops) mixed with lemon juice. How would you comment on this?..\My attention is now on Pegassys/Riba as mentioned earlier. How do we apply that?.Is this going to be
injected or taken orally?.You know, Ive been treating my HBV using herb for 7 months now but the result is discouraging.My hbs value fluctuates up and down on the range of 0.02.
>>>"they have had 3 people convert antigen status in the last year."<<<
I bet that referring to the "e" antigen seroconversion. Be surprise otherwise.
The HepB pills are a cakewalk compare to C treatment.
Keep us posted.
I bet that referring to the "e" antigen seroconversion. Be surprise otherwise.
The HepB pills are a cakewalk compare to C treatment.
Keep us posted.
The Dr did tell me before I started treatment that he wasn’t too concerned about the possibility of me getting rid of C, but he said the B was going to be a lot harder to treat. I also remember his PA saying that they have had 3 people convert antigen status in the last year. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded promising.
I did have what I think is a low HBV DNA prior to tx. 189,000 comes to mind.
I just hope I can stop injections at 24 weeks as I worry about autoimmune disorders developing from the interferon injections.
My first two weeks of tx were awful. Severe chills, temp 102, headaches and bedridden. It finally let up and got even easier when I switched to Pegasys from Peg Intron. The main side effects I have now, come from the Ribavirin pills (I think). From what I understand, the anti-viral pills for HBV are not as bad……or at least I am hoping.
Thank you everyone for the replies. I’ll keep ya’ll posted as to my progress.
I did have what I think is a low HBV DNA prior to tx. 189,000 comes to mind.
I just hope I can stop injections at 24 weeks as I worry about autoimmune disorders developing from the interferon injections.
My first two weeks of tx were awful. Severe chills, temp 102, headaches and bedridden. It finally let up and got even easier when I switched to Pegasys from Peg Intron. The main side effects I have now, come from the Ribavirin pills (I think). From what I understand, the anti-viral pills for HBV are not as bad……or at least I am hoping.
Thank you everyone for the replies. I’ll keep ya’ll posted as to my progress.
Well, if your HBV DNA wasn't all that high before your Peg Intron, it's not surprising that you would go UND.
As long as you stay HBV DNA UND on Peg Intron, your HepB is being managed well. It's obviously the desired outcome.
Here's the thing, you have a timeframe for Peg Intron for HCV treatment. I think your doc will stop Peg Intron based on HCV because there's no timeframe for HBV. It's unlikely that you will be cured of HepB because seroconverting from surface antigen to surface antibody is still very pitiful after like 4 years of Peg Intron. So once you stop Peg Intron for C, your doc might put you on a potent mono-antiviral (like Entecavir) therapy if you seroconverted from eAntigen to eAntibody prior to treatment because with low or UND DNA, you are at minimal risk to develop resistance.
If you eSeroconverted during Peg Intro treatment. I think you continue the antiviral for at least a year, then very carefully try to come off. Monitor your HBV DNA closely by weekly PCR if possible. If you see DNA go back up, restart meds immediately so you don't risk the virus replicating to large number to increase its adaptive powers.
Also, as I mentioned before, I think I read somewhere that B and C are fighting for liver real estate. Once you kick C out, B may try to be more aggressive to move in. So be NY paranoid and keep watching those little buggers.
As long as you stay HBV DNA UND on Peg Intron, your HepB is being managed well. It's obviously the desired outcome.
Here's the thing, you have a timeframe for Peg Intron for HCV treatment. I think your doc will stop Peg Intron based on HCV because there's no timeframe for HBV. It's unlikely that you will be cured of HepB because seroconverting from surface antigen to surface antibody is still very pitiful after like 4 years of Peg Intron. So once you stop Peg Intron for C, your doc might put you on a potent mono-antiviral (like Entecavir) therapy if you seroconverted from eAntigen to eAntibody prior to treatment because with low or UND DNA, you are at minimal risk to develop resistance.
If you eSeroconverted during Peg Intro treatment. I think you continue the antiviral for at least a year, then very carefully try to come off. Monitor your HBV DNA closely by weekly PCR if possible. If you see DNA go back up, restart meds immediately so you don't risk the virus replicating to large number to increase its adaptive powers.
Also, as I mentioned before, I think I read somewhere that B and C are fighting for liver real estate. Once you kick C out, B may try to be more aggressive to move in. So be NY paranoid and keep watching those little buggers.
I actually am not really up to speed on HBV treatment models with interferon. Maybe steven will know.
I think my best chance for getting Hep C was about 23 years ago but I think I contracted Hep B within the last 10 years. . I guess there is no way to know for sure. I have thought of many risk factors that I never would have thought of before I found out.
My wife’s blood work showed that she had, had Hep B, but her body cleared it on its own.
My wife’s blood work showed that she had, had Hep B, but her body cleared it on its own.
Before I started treatment, the Dr. said due to HCV being Genotype 2, I would treat for 24 weeks. At the end of the treatment, he would evaluate how the HBV was responding and decide if I should continue on mono-therapy (just interferon without Ribavirin pills) for another 6 months.
Not knowing a whole lot about Hep B, I don’t know if being UND at week 4 may allow me to stop ALL treatment at just 24 weeks.
I have a 90 percent chance of clearing Hep C with just 24 weeks of tx. I have no clue when it comes to Hep B.
Not knowing a whole lot about Hep B, I don’t know if being UND at week 4 may allow me to stop ALL treatment at just 24 weeks.
I have a 90 percent chance of clearing Hep C with just 24 weeks of tx. I have no clue when it comes to Hep B.
Congratulations! Good news!
There are different numbers given for clearance rates with peg...the highest and most controversial number being 11%. I'm assuming, btw, that this is a chronic infection.
I don't know the answer to your last question. Do you know when you contracted? Most adults will clear it on their own.
You will have to continue to monitor you HBV after treatment. Responding to the interferon is a great sign.
There are different numbers given for clearance rates with peg...the highest and most controversial number being 11%. I'm assuming, btw, that this is a chronic infection.
I don't know the answer to your last question. Do you know when you contracted? Most adults will clear it on their own.
You will have to continue to monitor you HBV after treatment. Responding to the interferon is a great sign.
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