Aa
Re-Post What is the Definition of 'High' Viral Load During Pregnancy/Birth?
I'm sorry, I reposted this b/c the 'post a comment' option was somehow disabled on the first post I had..It leads to a web page instead.
I have been trying to research information on the web re: vertical transmission of HCV & viral loads. I noticed there seems to be a correlation between the mother's viral load at the time of birth & transmission to the newborn.
I have been Hep C positive since at least 2000. I gave birth to a son on 9/30/03. My last test for viral load before I gave birth was 7 months prior in March, 2003 & it was 572,000, way up from 188,000 in Sept 2002..VL seemed to spike during my pregnancy & then afterward, dropped to down to 29,500 in March 04, then undetectable June 6 2006 & now I just got more results today, Aug 8th & VL is 5,035, up again.
My question is what is considered a dangerous high VL for a mother while pregnant or giving birth? IS Hep C transmitted intauterinely or during the birth?
Is it possible the pregnancy caused my VL to rise or is that just a coincindence? IS it normal for the ranges to fluctuate so greatly?
Thanks,
Lisa
I have been trying to research information on the web re: vertical transmission of HCV & viral loads. I noticed there seems to be a correlation between the mother's viral load at the time of birth & transmission to the newborn.
I have been Hep C positive since at least 2000. I gave birth to a son on 9/30/03. My last test for viral load before I gave birth was 7 months prior in March, 2003 & it was 572,000, way up from 188,000 in Sept 2002..VL seemed to spike during my pregnancy & then afterward, dropped to down to 29,500 in March 04, then undetectable June 6 2006 & now I just got more results today, Aug 8th & VL is 5,035, up again.
My question is what is considered a dangerous high VL for a mother while pregnant or giving birth? IS Hep C transmitted intauterinely or during the birth?
Is it possible the pregnancy caused my VL to rise or is that just a coincindence? IS it normal for the ranges to fluctuate so greatly?
Thanks,
Lisa
I have to get my son tested & I'm so afraid to find out which I guess is normal. It would seem the odds are in his favor but I'm having panic attacks thinking about it. I have been very stressed out lately, maybe that explains the little jump in the viral load. But I'm nervous now that there is a higher risk of the fibrosis if you have low viral loads. The tx is another thing I'm pretty scared to do. I kinda wish HCV drug options were less terrifying. 48 weeks is a pretty much a year of treatment. It seems like most people are just sick the whole time with the Interferon combination therapy.
Lisa
Lisa
Birth was Dr's explanation, based on the fact my mother is infected with same genotype, 1a, and amount of damage to my liver.
Studies suggest that children progress slower than adults, and the median time from stage 1 to cirrhosis is 30years.
Well I had biopsy at 26 I believe, and that would correlate with 30 year theory.
Another theory was that I was infected at like 10 in Jamacia from my mother via blood and open wound, then the over active immune response and heavy alcohol consumption speed the progression up.
I don't think anyone is certain of the exact point of infection, unless maybe a healthcare worker with a needle stick or something.
Studies suggest that children progress slower than adults, and the median time from stage 1 to cirrhosis is 30years.
Well I had biopsy at 26 I believe, and that would correlate with 30 year theory.
Another theory was that I was infected at like 10 in Jamacia from my mother via blood and open wound, then the over active immune response and heavy alcohol consumption speed the progression up.
I don't think anyone is certain of the exact point of infection, unless maybe a healthcare worker with a needle stick or something.
I have know idea what happened in the thread below, but I emailed Cindy and Phil to have it deleted..
I am 29years old, infected at birth. I WAS genotype 1a, but "cured" by taking the 48 week combo tx.
Your levels being inconsitent are somewhat normal..Viral loads do tend to fluctuate. But then being so incredibly low, and even going undetectable at times, correlate with an extremely strong immune system. Your body is fighting, but just does not have enough to knock it out for good, so to speak. This is how it was explained to me. Our immune system might knock it down to an undetectable level, but then stress or heavy alcohol consumption may allow it to increase. Like I said, you are one of only a few I have seen in my years on the net that have had such a low starting VL.. Mine was only 4000. But at the same time, I had moderate fibrosis, stage 3. My Dr explained that the immune response being so strong, played a contributing factor into the progression of fibrosis, sort of like auto immune hepatitis, where the body is actually attacking the liver.
That is why I became sooo concerned during tx, as my ALT's never normalized, and this is a sign of AIH..
But I did 48 weeks of tx, cured, and ALT's are now 21..
The information you find on the net in reference to vertical transmission is limited. Being that you had a c-section, odds are VERY low of your child being infected. From everything I found, and my wife being a nurse, the virus is transmitted during the breaking of the placenta, and the baby exiting the birth canal.
I am 29years old, infected at birth. I WAS genotype 1a, but "cured" by taking the 48 week combo tx.
Your levels being inconsitent are somewhat normal..Viral loads do tend to fluctuate. But then being so incredibly low, and even going undetectable at times, correlate with an extremely strong immune system. Your body is fighting, but just does not have enough to knock it out for good, so to speak. This is how it was explained to me. Our immune system might knock it down to an undetectable level, but then stress or heavy alcohol consumption may allow it to increase. Like I said, you are one of only a few I have seen in my years on the net that have had such a low starting VL.. Mine was only 4000. But at the same time, I had moderate fibrosis, stage 3. My Dr explained that the immune response being so strong, played a contributing factor into the progression of fibrosis, sort of like auto immune hepatitis, where the body is actually attacking the liver.
That is why I became sooo concerned during tx, as my ALT's never normalized, and this is a sign of AIH..
But I did 48 weeks of tx, cured, and ALT's are now 21..
The information you find on the net in reference to vertical transmission is limited. Being that you had a c-section, odds are VERY low of your child being infected. From everything I found, and my wife being a nurse, the virus is transmitted during the breaking of the placenta, and the baby exiting the birth canal.
I stumbled across a post of yours on here from 2005 where you explain your mom's natural water birth. I wanted to ask you, how can you be totally sure that your birth is the way you got HCV? If you weren't tested til you were 15 when you started getting symptoms? Some people just don't know where they got it, maybe yours was transmitted via some other means you were unaware of? If you've answered this question already like, 1000x please forgive me snook..I'm a newbie..
Also, I had twins a couple of years ago while infected with HCV. Soon after their birth, my viral load was around 2 million. Neither twin is infected with HCV.
Viral loads fluctuate. Even at it's highest, yours hasn't been that high.
Here is a link for you that discusses viral load:
http://janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm#Viral%20load%20chart
There's more info at the main site:
http://janis7hepc.com
Here is a link for you that discusses viral load:
http://janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm#Viral%20load%20chart
There's more info at the main site:
http://janis7hepc.com
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