How long is HCV treatment with new drug and when are you considered cured?

[SisterHelp]

My sister is undergoing HCV treatment for geno type 1 which she has had 33 years from a blood transfusion.  She is on Combined therapy (interferon and ribavirin) along with the new drug Incivek.  She had not detectable virus after 2 weeks of treatment.  Her doctor is telling her that she only needs to be on treatment for 24 weeks.  He is also telling her that she will be considered cured is she doesn't have any detectable virus for 6 months (which includes the non-detectable virus time during treatment).   Is this information accurate.
Thank you for you help!
Sister Help

[80mecheng]

The link below is one of the best I am aware of summarizing test results with Incivick and Vic and treatment guidelines.  It takes some time to dig thru but is factual and clear.

http://www.aasld.org/practiceguidelines/Documents/2011UpdateGenotype1HCVbyAASLD24641.pdf?cf03388EF1=E5A7752C!MjA0MDE1OTQ3OmNvcnByYWRpdXNzc286cZ2RPVB2sBQtej+2reuHeQ==

[Dee1956]

Hi you are so nice to be helping your sister, many do not have family support so it is nice to hear.  It is possible that there was a misunderstanding because the doc gives so much info you can't absorb.  Everyone above is correct 6 months after the 24 weeks.  She is so lucky to only have to do 24 weeks.
It is a hard treatment and much patience is needed as she goes through therapy, oh I am referring to myself, your sister may not have the Riba Rage I did, LOL
You are the best sister
Good luck to both of you

[SisterHelp]

Thank you all for you answers.  I am glad to hear that what the doctor is telling her is accurate (aside from the cure diagnoses; but this could just be my sister misunderstanding).  She can't wait to be done with treatment as the meds are making her feel terrible.  

[pooh55811]

Her doctor is correct that, because she was undetected at 2 weeks, she needs to do 24 weeks of treatment. However, as James said, she is not considered cured until she has a viral load done 6 months after treatment ends and it is still undetected.

A person can be undetected during treatment and also at the 24 week mark (end of treatment) and then, after stopping the drugs, the virus has come back in a few people. For these people, called relapsers, the drug was undetectable in the blood but it was somewhere and after the medications were stopped it was able to replicate again.

Your sister, being undetcted at 2 weeks, has an excellent chance (very high percentage) of remaining undetected all through treatment and also 6 months after treatment ends. If she is still undetected 6 months after treatment ends, she is considered cured.

[hcvJames]

It's my poor understanding it's six months post treatment irregardless of when you became undetectable during treatment. So presuming she remains UND (undetected) for the remaining 22 weeks of treatment it does not count towards the six months.

If one is doing 48 weeks and is UND at 2 or 4 weeks they would be cured before even finishing treatment!

Otherwise this is extremely good news for your sister.

All the best

[orphanedhawk]

Yes, it is accurate.
Your sister is fortunate to be undetected at 2 weeks. This is very good news! It means she is more likely to have a successful treatment.
She is lucky to have you helping her.