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News Stories
<a href="http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2005/NewsRev-88.html#10">Bioenvision Evaluates New Agent in Fight against Hepatitis C; Patient Enrollment Begins in Multi-Center, International Phase II Clinical Trial</a>
<a href="http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2005/NewsRev-88.html#11">Human Genome Sciences Completes Enrollment in a Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Albuferon(TM) in Treatment-Naive Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/022205_05.htm">How Hepatitis C Short-Circuits the Immune System</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/022205_03.htm">Medicaid Utilization of IFN/RBV for HCV Therapy</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/022205_02.htm">
CD8/CTLs Predict Response to IFN/RBV Therapy</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/021805_01.htm">The Spectrum of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Virginia Correctional System: Development of a Strategy for the Evaluation and Treatment of Inmates with HCV</a>
<a href="http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2005/021805_a.html">Predicting Progressive Hepatic Fibrosis Stage on Subsequent Liver Biopsy</a>
<a href="http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2005/021805_b.html">Persistence of HCV After Successful Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C: Is HCV Infection for Life?</a>
<a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/109930117/ABSTRACT">Patients with cirrhosis and bare-stent TIPS may have increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma</a>
<a href="http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2005/NewsRev-88.html#11">Human Genome Sciences Completes Enrollment in a Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Albuferon(TM) in Treatment-Naive Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/022205_05.htm">How Hepatitis C Short-Circuits the Immune System</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/022205_03.htm">Medicaid Utilization of IFN/RBV for HCV Therapy</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/022205_02.htm">
CD8/CTLs Predict Response to IFN/RBV Therapy</a>
<a href="http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/021805_01.htm">The Spectrum of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Virginia Correctional System: Development of a Strategy for the Evaluation and Treatment of Inmates with HCV</a>
<a href="http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2005/021805_a.html">Predicting Progressive Hepatic Fibrosis Stage on Subsequent Liver Biopsy</a>
<a href="http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2005/021805_b.html">Persistence of HCV After Successful Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C: Is HCV Infection for Life?</a>
<a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/109930117/ABSTRACT">Patients with cirrhosis and bare-stent TIPS may have increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma</a>
Hey INFO MAN,
Your scores look real good.....100/100. Where I come from that means graduating with honors.
Good luck on your PCR.
Ben
That is wonderful to hear! You have fought so hard and been through some rough times and all along through this whole ordeal,,,,continued to help so many! Very encouraging news!!
Welcome to the forum. Lots of good folks here - with lots of good help, support and information.
I am a geno 1a who aquired HCV through self-infliction in 1984 or 1985. First diagnosed in 1992. I tried the existing tx back then of 3 million IU of Intron-A. My WBC dropped dramatically after a few months and my dosage was lowered to 2 million. My LFT's normalized while on the 3 million, but soon they began to go up once the doasge was lowered. After 7 months total my tx was over, and my LFT's have been elevated ever since.
Fast forward to 2003. For the first time ever my AFP tested above normal, eventually peaking out at about 20. Since at an elevated level up to 50 it can be an indicator of increased inflamitory activity in the liver, the decision was made to do a bx and to go ahead and treat. My bx results were very similar to my only previous one done in 1992, showing Stage 1 damage and Grade 1 inflamation. In February of 2004 I began 48 weeks of 180 mcg of Pegasys and 1,200 mg of ribavirin. My routine for the interferon was to take my shot at 7 PM on each Sunday evening, never varying by more than 10 minutes. My routine for the ribavirin was to take it at 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM, never varying by more than 45 minutes. I did this routine to help keep my focus on compliance, which is the one area of tx odds that I would have complete control over. I ended up taking Neupogen for my low WBC this time, for approximately half of my tx. My LFT's normalized by week #2 and my blood showed no sign of the virus by week #12 - and again at week #48. I am now 6 1/2 weeks post-tx and in the recovery phase.
My advice for anyone going into tx is be sure that you and your doctor are on the same page. This includes making certain that you will be prescribed Neupogen and Procrit pro-actively (i.e. - BEFORE you reach the point where dosage reduction is called for). Make sure that your pharmacy can get each of those drugs (and any others you may need - including the interferon and the riba). And make sure that your insurance will cover all of them. As much of this foot-work you take care of ahead of time will end up making life easier for you should a crisis in any of those areas arise. Also, try and find out how flexible your doctor is about length of tx (eg - if you don't clear the virus by week #12, will your tx be extended?). And find out how frequently you will be tested for viral levels - the more early on in tx, the better. And find out frequently 'regular' blood work will be done. Ask how often you will be seeing your doctor in person. And find out who will be your contact during the course of your tx (eg - nurse, nurse practitioner, etc.). Find out who will be your emergency contact. Ask how and when you will be receiving your test results.
Your doctor and everyone in their office works for you. You have to be sure they are a correct fit for your needs before ever beginning tx. Stay on top of them the whole way. Never be afraid to ask questions or to be a pain-in-the-ass - perceived or otherwise. Your goal is to get rid of this virus for good and to have to treat only once. Doctors see many, many patients every week. You are but a blip on their radar and can easily get lost-in-the-sauce. Learn as much as you can about the things you need to know and always be a self-advocate.
TnHepGuy
I am a geno 1a who aquired HCV through self-infliction in 1984 or 1985. First diagnosed in 1992. I tried the existing tx back then of 3 million IU of Intron-A. My WBC dropped dramatically after a few months and my dosage was lowered to 2 million. My LFT's normalized while on the 3 million, but soon they began to go up once the doasge was lowered. After 7 months total my tx was over, and my LFT's have been elevated ever since.
Fast forward to 2003. For the first time ever my AFP tested above normal, eventually peaking out at about 20. Since at an elevated level up to 50 it can be an indicator of increased inflamitory activity in the liver, the decision was made to do a bx and to go ahead and treat. My bx results were very similar to my only previous one done in 1992, showing Stage 1 damage and Grade 1 inflamation. In February of 2004 I began 48 weeks of 180 mcg of Pegasys and 1,200 mg of ribavirin. My routine for the interferon was to take my shot at 7 PM on each Sunday evening, never varying by more than 10 minutes. My routine for the ribavirin was to take it at 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM, never varying by more than 45 minutes. I did this routine to help keep my focus on compliance, which is the one area of tx odds that I would have complete control over. I ended up taking Neupogen for my low WBC this time, for approximately half of my tx. My LFT's normalized by week #2 and my blood showed no sign of the virus by week #12 - and again at week #48. I am now 6 1/2 weeks post-tx and in the recovery phase.
My advice for anyone going into tx is be sure that you and your doctor are on the same page. This includes making certain that you will be prescribed Neupogen and Procrit pro-actively (i.e. - BEFORE you reach the point where dosage reduction is called for). Make sure that your pharmacy can get each of those drugs (and any others you may need - including the interferon and the riba). And make sure that your insurance will cover all of them. As much of this foot-work you take care of ahead of time will end up making life easier for you should a crisis in any of those areas arise. Also, try and find out how flexible your doctor is about length of tx (eg - if you don't clear the virus by week #12, will your tx be extended?). And find out how frequently you will be tested for viral levels - the more early on in tx, the better. And find out frequently 'regular' blood work will be done. Ask how often you will be seeing your doctor in person. And find out who will be your contact during the course of your tx (eg - nurse, nurse practitioner, etc.). Find out who will be your emergency contact. Ask how and when you will be receiving your test results.
Your doctor and everyone in their office works for you. You have to be sure they are a correct fit for your needs before ever beginning tx. Stay on top of them the whole way. Never be afraid to ask questions or to be a pain-in-the-ass - perceived or otherwise. Your goal is to get rid of this virus for good and to have to treat only once. Doctors see many, many patients every week. You are but a blip on their radar and can easily get lost-in-the-sauce. Learn as much as you can about the things you need to know and always be a self-advocate.
TnHepGuy
Looking good man! Numbers look good. You are right on about the relationship with the docs. We have to take our tx into our own hands and not be a blip on the radar screen. HAPPY FOR YOU!
I'm sorta new to this forum and am unaware of the program you followed to get to these excellent results. Its really good to read about the HCV devil being beaten down. Currently I'm not on a program but will be by May of this year. Would you be so kind to post your schedule, dose, etc for me? Also, what is your geno? Thnx much.
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