News items, other thoughts, thanks, open thread

[TnHepGuy_]

Here are a few things that caught my eye recently:

<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16251813&query_hl=9">Hepatitis C virus populations in the plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cerebrospinal fluid of HIV/hepatitis C virus-co-infected patients</a>

This study suggests some troubling items: HCV RNA independently replicating in cerebrospinal fluid. And differing genotypes of HCV RNA in different 'compartments' of the body, suggesting each compartment may possess the ability to be an indepenent replicatory breeding arena.



<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16144125&query_hl=7">Occult viral hepatitis and noncirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma</a>

This story points out the need for any SVR to keep an eye on the state of the health of their liver over time - based upon the experiences of occult HBV.


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[mistybean]

I am not a bit worried about occult virus.  I have had this for about 28 years and have survived.  I had Hep B also and test positive for it.  Just no active virus. I just hope to get a SVR so i can move on and worry about other potential health problems.  Once I get a SVR.. I am never looking back at Hep c.

[Snookmiester]

What I was told by my Dr's about shooting at the same injection site, is that IT WILL CAUSE NEUROPATHY.
I never had a chart, never made dots with a marker, just followed the bruises around. I used the tummy and would start on one side of the belly button and move over inch by inch.. Then switch to the other side. On the thigh, I started high, and worked down. Alternating legs each week.

[johnisme]

I agree with both of you, i just want to be svr. And if im one of the lucky ones that do obtain svr Im not going to let hcv control the rest of my life. With age comes other health issues and it seems the stress with being obessed with hcv can not be good.

Best of luck to you....John

[couldn't think of a nickname]

One thing I think should be pointed out in the first study is that it was in those coinfected with HIV. I believe I read somewhere before that HCV transmission during sex, albeit still very low, is actually higher in those with HIV coinfection. They need to do studies on HCV patients only, and also try to ascertain the differences between coinfection and single infection.
It is scary to think that the virus can be stored somewhere else and still replicate after SVR, but I am about to ask a stupid question as I have no knowledge on this topic. If HCV were to get in spinal fluids, wouldn't it be able to get out as well, thus showing up in the blood or liver again?
The working theory has always been, that unlike HIV, HCV doesn't have hidden reservoirs. VRTX did email me some stuff on occult infection and re-emergence after a long period of SVR, and the end result was, that when someone had a compromised immune system due to needing treatment with steroids, or chemo, then it was possible to see it re-emerge. The question is, where was it all of those years? Further, was it the same strain, or was it a different infection?

Too many questions, too few answers.
I think I am finished rambling.

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the studies and thanks for stopping by. Some of us more recent members have been hearing good things about you.

Not too long ago, DoubleDose posted several related studies both on occult Hepatitis C and familial transmission. He took a little heat on that from a number of members, including myself. Not so much for posting the articles, but for some of his inferences. For the record, I have since apologized to him on the forum.

Personally, I don't find these studies troubling, as my goal and focus in life right now is to achieve SVR (week 36/48) -- and should I achieve SVR I will be one happy camper, whether I still have little occult devils running around in my brain or not. :)

That said, occult hepatitis C is a fascinating subject and has so many ramifications both in basic research and hopefully in finding better cures.

Equally exciting is that many of the newer and more sensitive tests coming out of this research might someday be used as a more accurate barometer of when the virus has truly left town.

Nowadays, studies withstanding, we're still guessing when to stop treatment, be it 12, 24, 48 or 72 weeks. Wouldn't it be wonderful if out of these occult studies a test was developed that said with certainty -- yes the virus is gone. You can stop now.

We all must remember that it wasn't too long ago when according to the medical experts the Hepatitis C virus did not exist. Depending on the year you were diagnosed, some of us were told we had either non-a, non-b hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatitis.

Thankfully, research keeps going on and on.

-- Jim

[cuteus]

WOW! pretty interesting stuff, I bet doubledose is salivating on that one!

the latter link seems to be to a theory with no research yet, so I am not worrying as of now.
the first one is quite intriguing, I wonder if the fact that there are TWO different viruses(HIV & HCV) relates to the spreading of HCV into the sites mentioned, like csf.  It seems to be research done on still infected folks, not on SVRs.
Most Drs still think that the meds in the serum will reach hcv wherever it went, and that our immune system has now become effective in eliminating or deactivating hcv in our bodies. Remission some call it. Others say cured, given the fact that long term SVRs do not have hcv bounce back, if they were truly SVRs.
I am still not going to worry about hidden virus.  When they find it in SVRs actively replicating in some organ or tissue, I will panic.