8 week lab results: UND!!

[Bovary73]

Just got back from hospital and an appointment with my nurse and got the 8 weeks lab results:
B-Leukocytter: 2.9 (should normally be between 3.5-11.0)
Lk-Neutrofile gr: 1.69 (should normally be between 1.90-8.00)
Lk-Lymfocytter: 0.95 (should normally be between 1.00-5.00)
Lk-Monocytter: 0.18 (should normally be between 0.20-1.00)
Lk-Eosinofile: 0.07
Lk-Basofile gran: 0.01
B-Trombocytter: 235
B-Hemoglobin: 8.1 (should normally be between 11.5-15)
S-Kreatinin: 88 umol/l
eGRF: >60 ml/min/l
S-Albumin: 40 g/l
S-Glukose: 4.1
B-Glykosylert Hb: 3.8% (should normally be between 4.3-6.1%)
S-Bilirubin: 13
S-Asat: 17
S-Alat: 16
S-ALP: 61
S-Pankr.amylase: 22

And finally: HCV-RNA PCR: negative!!!

This is in Norwegian so it may be difficult to translate into something you can understand, but I hope you can help me interpret it.

When it comes to hgb at 8.1 that was taken care of last Friday with a blood transfusion. They took a blood test to see if I can get Procrit (levels of ritropoetin in the blood) and still haven't got this result and therefore still haven't started with Procrit. They say that they will monitor the hgb weekly from now on and give transfusions when needed. I hope I can get some Procrit too..

So, if things continue this way, I can treat for 28 weeks insted of 48 (on Victrelis).

Yes!!! Just a little early to celebrate, but I sure enjoy this! And it helps on the motivation.

I'm so happy that Boceprevir is doing it's job (was still detectable on week 4 before starting Victrelis).

[orphanedhawk]

UND~ yes, three letters we all love to see !
Congrats.

[flcyclist]

Very good news on the UND. Congrats!  I like your sense of humor and great attitude.  This will help carry you through some rough spots.  

[susy50]

congrats wonderful news for alot of us today

[1oftheclub222]

Congrats Girl!  Glad they took care of the anemia thing too...are you feeling better since the transfusion?  doesn't that make you feel better pretty much right away?

[pooh55811]

Congratulatins on being Undetected at 8 weks. It is exceptionally encouraging news and puts you on the road to SVR.

[Advocate1955]

Congrats on being UND at week 8!  That is fantastic news.  Your chances are very good for SVR!
Advocate1955

[80mecheng]

Bovary-Yes if you are UND at week 8 you have nearly a 90% chance of success and a treatment cycle of 28 weeks.  I am on Vic as well with a similar response.  4 more shots and I am done.  Don't know if I could physically make it to 48 since my hmg had dropped to 9.2 and was continuing down at week 18.  I am on Procrit and it has helped but not as much as I had expected.  Went up to 9.9 after 5 weeks but this week it droped to 9.5 and neither the doctor nor I have a clue as to why.

Treatment has been tough but looking forward to being done and clear.  Hang in there.

[Bovary73]

"Norwegian or not, that is something we all understand.. "

Lol! ;)

Aquisi: I was still positive on the HCV PCR RNA test at week 4 (no VL was taken).

Will: "The protocol for the anemia (HGB. level ) is to reduce RIBA and /or introduce Procrit to the therapy ,,,not usually to do multiple transfusions. "

Our health care system (Norway) is quite different from yours in the US. It seems to me that this is a question of economy. Adding Procrit is expencive and therefore they give blood insted. I have asked "a hundred times" about this to both the nurse and doc, and they both seem reluctant to Procrit. I asked "what's the plan against anemia" and they will wait for blood results when it comes to Ritropoetin levels in my blood. This can tell how well / or not I respond to Procrit. But things take an awfall lot of time when it comes to this question about adding Procrit, so I have given up and try to rely on their "plan". What more can I do? Order Procrit on my own on Ebay...? Lol.

[can-do-man]

Does this mean that if HCV-RNA negative at week 8 there's a 88% chance of reaching SVR?

Yep, or better..:)

Boceprevir-treated patients who achieved undetectable HCV RNA at treatment Week 8 had a high probability of achieving SVR; indeed, these SVR rates were 89% to 91% for nonblack patients

[Aquisi]

Congrats on being undetected.What your 4 week PCR?

[can-do-man]

"This is in Norwegian so it may be difficult to translate into something you can understand, but I hope you can help me interpret it."

"And finally: HCV-RNA PCR: negative!!!"

Norwegian or not, that is something we all understand..

FANTASTIC !!!

[willbb]

Congrats on the UND.!
On VIC. UND @WK. 8 is an excellent predictor of success.
Your labs are all normal for someone on HCV treatment
The protocol for the anemia (HGB. level ) is to reduce RIBA and /or introduce Procrit to the therapy ,,,not usually to do multiple transfusions.

Again, congrats and good luck going forward..

Will

[Bovary73]

I found this info on SVR rates on Merck News about triple tx with Victrelis:

"•Treatment-naïve patients: 57 percent (208/368) of patients in the RGT arm and 56 percent (204/366) of patients in the 48-week treatment arm receiving VICTRELIS had undetectable virus (HCV-RNA) at treatment week 8 and were considered early responders, compared to 17 percent (60/363) for control. The SVR rate for these early responders was 88 percent (184/208) in the RGT arm and 90 percent (184/204) in the 48-week treatment arm, compared to 85 percent (51/60) for control. Early responders in the RGT arm were eligible to stop all treatment at week 28."

Does this mean that if HCV-RNA negative at week 8 there's a 88% chance of reaching SVR?

[Tekelcat]

Fantastic!