Questionnaire

[TeeVee36]

I would like to know how many people have really been cured?  Specifically who is UND for 3 yrs or more?

Who has been UND for 6 mos to a year and then relapsed?

[DoubleDose]

As an additional comment, I will say that of course there are probably some valid false positives that occur, but I think there has been a pattern to some of these supposed 'false positives', and I think we should think about different explanations other than just a 'faulty test result'.  Maybe the test result is trying to educate us to another aspect of the virus, or a phenomena that we are not considering when these things happen.  Maybe we can be SVR, but have sporadic low level positive tests from time to time, nonetheless.  This would be a perfect explanation for the low level fleeting positives on some of these tests, if indeed the virus is now in a state of 'controlled remission' in SVR's.

DoubleDose

[DoubleDose]

Of course there is another way to interpret these low level 'false positives' that some see on post-tx testing.  Some seem to receive these 'low level positive' labs shortly after finishing tx, and being undetected for many months.  Most or all of them seem to follow up with labs that indicate fully 'undetected', or SVR.  My own thought is that maybe we are just seeing low level fluctuations in the virus, slightly above the level of detectability, and then the immune system gets it under control, and it goes back under the 'radar screen'  (our current level of sensitivity testing) to show the SVR.

Maybe this is just the good old 'persistent virus after SVR' that we read about in the research.  I would think that it probably stays well below 5 IU/ml, and thus shows undetected even on the most sensitive tests.  Only right after discontinuing interferon tx do we see a little up and down on the persistent stuff, as if it is testing the boundaries, or the 'wall' erected against it.  Maybe later, over the years, we have a few of these on and off, up and down, system tests, with the virus climbing a little bit over the normally detectable barrier on testing. This may especially happen when our system is under extra stress....surgery, illnesses, intoxication, etc. Then it goes right back to super low levels for the next test, so everyone assumes the positive result, of maybe 40 IU, or 70 IU, or 120 IU, etc. was just a 'false positive'.  Well, maybe it is really a low level positive, but not a true reactivation of the virus.  If the 'remission / persistent virus 'theories are valid, then this is possibly a better explanation!

That's my take.  

DoubleDose

[Myown]

Just read more and the girl had received a FALSE POSITIVE!!! (Thank God!)
Boy it shows how we can't always trust those tests! Scary.
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In Response To: Late relapse (Claudia)

Well there really are false positives. My friend went and got another test and came back undetectable

[Myown]

I just found this on another site.....

http://www.hepcnet.net/boards/medsforum/index.cgi?read=9807

Aloha all -

It has been a long time since I have posted ~ I guess that is what happens when you clear with a SVR and get on with life!

Question: A friend who cleared about the same time as me - 4 years ago - just got her latest RNA back - 700 of the little buggers running around after being >50 since treatment. She currently is having gall stone problems as well.

Any feedback on the statistics or probability of this happening? Is there a chance of faulty reading because of gall stones?

Obviously she is freaking - wouldn't we all after 4 years - so any info is appreciated.

So aloha to all old friends from way back and aloha to all of you who do not know me -

Mahalo,
Claudia


In Response To: Late relapse (Claudia)

Unfortunately, that is not the first case I know of personally. Remember Mike Childress? His buddy relapsed after 5 years. I have seen stats somewhere...I know it does happen...I would not think the gallstones would affect a PCR  
Nice to see you  

[mikesimon]

The sort answer is that I think they tested blood form my liver. Let me get a real answer. Mike

[mikesimon]

I cannot answer that question, unfortunately. I could guess at it but that would only add confusion. I did ask about the testing procedure some time ago and I think I did get the answer but I didn't retain it, probably because of some other pressing issues that were paramount at the time. Willing and I tossed this around when it was fresh and that is what prompted me to ask about it.
I will ask right now but I probably won't have answer to you before Monday and likely Tuesday.
Sorry about that. Mike