A question about being re-infected

[ajw543]

One thing I have been wondering about.  If I were to clear this HCV now while in the acute phase will I be immune to the specific GT that I have.  I know I will not be immune to all the other GT’s.  But since I am GT 1a if I clear can I be infected again with GT 1a again.

[JennyPenny]

You need to have a viral load test to know if you cleared on your own. I sure hope you did. However, with genotype 1a it may be less likely although I do not know that for sure. What I do know is if a person treats in the acute stage, treatment is shorter and it works almost all the time. Your ALT sure does sound like it was an acute infection.

[ajw543]

First let me say thank you to all that have answered my question.  We know I am acute because I have been tested before and been neg.  I also know who, how and when I was infected.  I helped a friend when they were injured pretty badly lots of blood.  I did have cuts on my hands.  Once I got so sick and got told I have HCV we have since had him tested and he has HCV and has probably had it since the 80’s when he used to use IVD.  Also my Dr. was pretty sure right off the bat I was acute from my lab numbers.  Mostly my ALT’s.  My ALT was 2895 on first check.  They did all my labs again a week later and  I came back with a VL of 265 GT 1a and my ALT was down to 500 by then.  I go back to the Dr. today and have my fingers crossed that my new labs will show I have cleared on my own.  The dr. is waiting a bit to see if I clear before we start TX.

[meki]

;-D

Yeah --- what she said... LOL!

Meki

[JennyPenny]

I think you are not answering the question that was asked. It had nothing to do with anything except immunity. The antibodies that persist after the virus is gone are not protective. There is never an immunity to hepatitis C.

[nygirl7]

It's not as if it creates some sort of vaccine for the future.  You could be reinfected at any time in the future should you decide to do IVdrugs for example. Any live virus would be live virus inside of you and thus - infection. The medications do not stay inside of you forever.

That is why after we reach SVR we have to make sure to be extremely careful with things like nail salons etc. in the future.  

I hope that your body beats it while it's in the acute phase but remember.........you can always be infected again so be careful and protected.  How do you know you are in the acute phase?  That is mighty lucky to know. wish you all the luck.

[meki]

What they are saying in a nutshell:

You can be reinfected with the same genotype...

You can be reinfected - even if you go Undetectable Viral load.

And some people have their viral loads reactivate - after a brief SVR.
(CS has some stats around here somewhere that give percentages after time about reactivation of the virus after SVR is reached)

So - you have no guarantees in this at all.

That being said --- it's appearing to me --- that it is better to have SVR than to be active - and the best time to get UND and SVR seems to be catching it while in the acute phase and treating IMMEDIATELY.

Much luck.

Meki

[JennyPenny]

Absolutely NOT. The antibodies in hepatitis C are not protective in any way. You could re-infect with the same genotype.

[Trish77]

Simply....yes.