Aa
Am I a non-responder?
Hello! Got diagnosed with HCV, genotype 1b two years ago. Looks like I've had it for at least 30 years now - had a blood transfusion in 1970s... I am now on week 14 of TX (pegasys + ribavirin). Don't feel any side effects at all, except for some mild hair shedding. I also drink plenty of water, and feel very good, actually better than before the therapy. Got more energy. Yet, my PCR test results are ... a buzz killer:
- 3 weeks before therapy- 280,000
- 1 week before therapy - 1,060,000
- week 4 of therapy - 13,000
- week 8 on therapy - 2,575
- week 12 on therapy - 66,742
- week 13 on therapy - 103,000
Looks like a roller-coaster ride to me... Am I a non-responder? My doc is suggesting keep on the current meds will week 24 and then if the virus is still detectable, switch me on infergen.
I am still hopeful... but my optimism is kind of down now when I got my labs done for week 12...
Anyone had the same happen to them as far as viral load climbing up? Is pegasys not working for me?
- 3 weeks before therapy- 280,000
- 1 week before therapy - 1,060,000
- week 4 of therapy - 13,000
- week 8 on therapy - 2,575
- week 12 on therapy - 66,742
- week 13 on therapy - 103,000
Looks like a roller-coaster ride to me... Am I a non-responder? My doc is suggesting keep on the current meds will week 24 and then if the virus is still detectable, switch me on infergen.
I am still hopeful... but my optimism is kind of down now when I got my labs done for week 12...
Anyone had the same happen to them as far as viral load climbing up? Is pegasys not working for me?
you are a perfect example why PCR's should be givin early & often in treatment so doctor can adjust RX. Perhaps your Riba could have been increased to 1400 or 1600 until UNde and noticeable drop in HGB. Then decrease back to 1200. Even adding something like Aliana is worth a try early on. Whatever is takes to be undetectable by 12 weeks !
I am also going for the "wait for the new drugs", since trials has showed that peg alfa-2a (pegasys) gives best results for your GT of the current treatments.
Bill is a trustworthy source of information. He cured some time ago but never lost his fascination for the disease and keeps abreast of what's going. He is also the only poster I consistently agree with and I would stand behind his opinion on your situation as well.
Having only a temporary dip in your VL shows that the interferon helped a bit at first and then failed to establish a pattern the way it should have. I don't think you are a responder. Hep C is a relatively weak RNA virus that is just very good at hiding from your immune sytem. Interferon can induce extra virus killing cells but they can't do their job if they can't 'find' the virus. Other forms of interferon exist but it's hard to predict if they will be more effective against your strain than the current form you are on.
1b's are not more resistant than other geno's; that was a finding in one small study; wish they would stop publishing those little studies, since they are so misleading to net searchers. I was a 1b with a low VL and cleared after 1 week because I was one who was very responsive to interferon. Many, many people who ARE responsive have dramatic, miserable drops in hemoglobin. You don't have that SX.
The current research goals on HCV Treatment are to shorten TX time in order to reduce the patients exposure to interferon, which can cause permanent damage to the human body from long exposure. If it were me, I would try to damp down that desire to "do anything" to keep treating, get out of TX and wait for the triple therapy (Interferon/ribavirin/protease inhibitor) to be approved in 2011. The current PI's being trialed for 2011 release are showing good promise for both non-responders and relapsers.
Having only a temporary dip in your VL shows that the interferon helped a bit at first and then failed to establish a pattern the way it should have. I don't think you are a responder. Hep C is a relatively weak RNA virus that is just very good at hiding from your immune sytem. Interferon can induce extra virus killing cells but they can't do their job if they can't 'find' the virus. Other forms of interferon exist but it's hard to predict if they will be more effective against your strain than the current form you are on.
1b's are not more resistant than other geno's; that was a finding in one small study; wish they would stop publishing those little studies, since they are so misleading to net searchers. I was a 1b with a low VL and cleared after 1 week because I was one who was very responsive to interferon. Many, many people who ARE responsive have dramatic, miserable drops in hemoglobin. You don't have that SX.
The current research goals on HCV Treatment are to shorten TX time in order to reduce the patients exposure to interferon, which can cause permanent damage to the human body from long exposure. If it were me, I would try to damp down that desire to "do anything" to keep treating, get out of TX and wait for the triple therapy (Interferon/ribavirin/protease inhibitor) to be approved in 2011. The current PI's being trialed for 2011 release are showing good promise for both non-responders and relapsers.
No, I’m sorry; I don’t know any staff personally. I have heard from others here that they have an excellent hepatology department though. Any time you can connect with a large teaching hospital, they are more likely to provide cutting edge knowledge and service to patients than a regional GI doc.
Bill
Bill
I am 180 lb, taking 1200 mg ribavirin a day. Never became anemic, ALL tests come out normal, except for viral load...
I agree with some of the others that waiting for the new drugs would be the best bet.
Waiting to see at 24 weeks is just prolonging taking very harsh drugs, most likely for nothing. The "2 log drop by 12 weeks" and "must be undetectable by 24 weeks" protocols are soon to be a thing of the past. To have a real chance to clear this virus you have to be clear by 12 weeks at the latest! The up to date Hepatologists are starting to use this protocol knowing not many SVR responding later then 12 weeks. They are realizing that clearing late gives the patient very little chance to SVR.
Sounds like you may have been UNDER dosed with ribavirin. What is your weight and how much riba are you on? Did your HGB drop a few points? By you saying you feel good is not a good sign when on TX. When this TX is working properly most will feel bad. Usually from anemia cause by the ribavirin.
Best of luck what ever you decide
Waiting to see at 24 weeks is just prolonging taking very harsh drugs, most likely for nothing. The "2 log drop by 12 weeks" and "must be undetectable by 24 weeks" protocols are soon to be a thing of the past. To have a real chance to clear this virus you have to be clear by 12 weeks at the latest! The up to date Hepatologists are starting to use this protocol knowing not many SVR responding later then 12 weeks. They are realizing that clearing late gives the patient very little chance to SVR.
Sounds like you may have been UNDER dosed with ribavirin. What is your weight and how much riba are you on? Did your HGB drop a few points? By you saying you feel good is not a good sign when on TX. When this TX is working properly most will feel bad. Usually from anemia cause by the ribavirin.
Best of luck what ever you decide
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