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Lab Results for Reference
History: Chronic Hep B diagnosed 9 years ago, at that time I had undetected viral load and minimally elevated ALT. I am e-antigen negative and e-antibody positive. Since diagnosis I have had undetected viral load and minimally elevated ALT (36 - 80) until last year when my viral load rose to 371 IU/ml (643 copies/ml). A three-month subsequent count showed viral load rising to 542 IU/ml (966 copies/ml).
The concern was that I might be progressing to e-antigen negative CHB.
Today: Labs show viral load has dropped back to 140 IU/ml. No evidence of disease progression. They were able to genotype me as a genotype B and there is no evidence of drug resistance. They were not able to determine if I have the precore or core promoter. Lesions seen on ultrasound and MRI suspicious of hemangioma to be followed-up with imaging at 6-month intervals for the next year.
I'm posting this for people to use as a reference.
The concern was that I might be progressing to e-antigen negative CHB.
Today: Labs show viral load has dropped back to 140 IU/ml. No evidence of disease progression. They were able to genotype me as a genotype B and there is no evidence of drug resistance. They were not able to determine if I have the precore or core promoter. Lesions seen on ultrasound and MRI suspicious of hemangioma to be followed-up with imaging at 6-month intervals for the next year.
I'm posting this for people to use as a reference.
They weren't sure they would have enough DNA to check my genotype but it looks like they did. They were not able to check for the mutant though. B actually responds well to treatment and has a better prognosis than some other genotypes.
According to the MRI the tumor is a hemangioma. We'll check again in a few months.
According to the MRI the tumor is a hemangioma. We'll check again in a few months.
Hey Zelly,
I didn't understand b/c if your dna was so low how were they able to detect genotype? Most labs assume a genotype but you have to have a dna load of over 10,000 to be detected for genotype. The case with me last year, i wanted to know my genotype but my dna was undetectable so when i got my labs back, it showed i was genotype D. but then i posted on the list and they told me they must have made a mistake b/c genotype can only be detected with a high viral load....so that's strange that your lab was able to tell u your genotype...isn't b harder to treat too?
Also, in your ultrasound it showed you had a tumor? Hope it was benign.
I didn't understand b/c if your dna was so low how were they able to detect genotype? Most labs assume a genotype but you have to have a dna load of over 10,000 to be detected for genotype. The case with me last year, i wanted to know my genotype but my dna was undetectable so when i got my labs back, it showed i was genotype D. but then i posted on the list and they told me they must have made a mistake b/c genotype can only be detected with a high viral load....so that's strange that your lab was able to tell u your genotype...isn't b harder to treat too?
Also, in your ultrasound it showed you had a tumor? Hope it was benign.
No, no. I guess there is a test now to see if you have certain markers that would indicate that you are more prone to drug resistance. I did not test positive for any of those markers.
I guess the fluctuations are normal but b/c I have never had levels above UND they felt that a rise in two consecutive test periods was something to watch more closely (especially b/c two small tumors were also found on my liver at the same time - probably hemangioma). That sort of fluctuation was not normal for *me*. But of course, the tests have become so much more sensitive that its hard to say that it really isn't normal for me. Probably I had fluctuations of this level before but they would have fallen into the UND range, such as it was, at that time.
I guess the fluctuations are normal but b/c I have never had levels above UND they felt that a rise in two consecutive test periods was something to watch more closely (especially b/c two small tumors were also found on my liver at the same time - probably hemangioma). That sort of fluctuation was not normal for *me*. But of course, the tests have become so much more sensitive that its hard to say that it really isn't normal for me. Probably I had fluctuations of this level before but they would have fallen into the UND range, such as it was, at that time.
From my understanding those fluctuations are what is expected. There was a study done on inactive carriers and DNA count but can't find it now.
I don't quite understand from your statement about drug resistance. Are you being treated with drugs with such a low DNA count?
I don't quite understand from your statement about drug resistance. Are you being treated with drugs with such a low DNA count?
Thank you! I was very pleased to say the least. ALT still high at 50 but there isn't much I can do about that. I'm thin, I don't smoke, I rarely drink, my diet is pretty good.
Fingers crossed for that e-antibody! Post your news.
Fingers crossed for that e-antibody! Post your news.
Congrats on the DNA drop!!! I think it's a great sign. Hang in there :)
I have my next round of labs this Friday. Mine should still be UND but I hoping to the the eAntibody light up.
I have my next round of labs this Friday. Mine should still be UND but I hoping to the the eAntibody light up.
I want to mention that although I was undetected at the time of diagnosis, keep in mind that 10 years ago undetected was anything under 100,000 copies/ml. Today it is closer to <160 copies/ml. I could have had a viral load of 90,000 and been undetected. Today, that is a treatment point in some cases.
Whenever you compare your numbers against someone else's keep in mind that the labs have gotten far more sensitive over time and that lab values can vary from lab to lab. Whenever I go to a lab that has 60 as the upper limit of normal my ALT tends to be higher than when I test at a lab that has 40 or 50 as the upper limit of normal.
It can useful to compare lab numbers but only if you bear in mind those factors.
Whenever you compare your numbers against someone else's keep in mind that the labs have gotten far more sensitive over time and that lab values can vary from lab to lab. Whenever I go to a lab that has 60 as the upper limit of normal my ALT tends to be higher than when I test at a lab that has 40 or 50 as the upper limit of normal.
It can useful to compare lab numbers but only if you bear in mind those factors.
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