Viral Load

[TA K]

Hi, I'm a 57 yr. old male diagnosed this June with hepatitis c,(1a)with a viral load of 2,600,000 and ALT 71/AST 38.

This month my viral load went to 26,000,000 and ALT 61/AST fell within the normal range.

I've had this hepatitis a long, long time and not on tx.

Is this increase normal? What would cause such an increase?

Thanks,
TA K

[odessit]

PCR has a range 50-50,000.000 UI/ml ( depending on the test of course ), so the number 52,400,000 seems unreal (not if it's a copies/ml, then divide by 3-4 to get in UI/ml)

[Indiana]

That's just too much of a coincidence to be real. I'd bet that somebody screwed up a decimal point on one of those tests. The question is....which one?

[willing]

Hi - the usual rule is that during chronic infection VL is expected to remain within a three-fold increase decrease, which is equivalent to a change of 0.5 or less in log units. Mr.Bill, your change is well within that range, but a ten fold change is more unusual. Are you sure both tests were measured  in the same units? Some, usually older, tests are reported in copies/ml whereas most are now reported in iu/ml. There are about 3-4 copies/iu though this varies from one type of test to another. If both tests were in the same units I'd consider going for a 3rd test since one may well be in error. An important point to remember is that VL is not correlated with severity of liver disease : as best we know, the amount of virus produced in the liver is (a) huge (b) constant. The amount we can detect in the the blood has little bearing on what's happening in the liver.

[Is_This_Real?]

Well, to follow up on the same wave lenght.  I was diagnosed in July 2002, viral load 13,000,000.  I just knew that had to be wrong, it was sooooooooo high.  

Second viral load (same PCR, same lab, same units) was completed in November 2002, viral load 24,000,000.

Third viral load in September 2003 was 52,400,000.

So, any guidance on this scenario?  I know drinking can increase VL, but I haven't had a single drink since I was diagnosed.

[mrbill]

hello there and welcome,
i am no expert as i was diagnosed in july, but from what i have been told, viral loads can fluctulate  from day to day. i had a viral load of 399,000 in july then one month later before tx, it was 169,000. i would like to know if its not acurate then how can they really tell if your undectable when you are?  hopefully someone will answer your question with alot more knowledge. i hope you have a smooth ride through tx and send the dragon to hell.