Anti-HCV test

[creativekut]

I would be grateful if someone could comment on my situation. I am 30, male, obese/over weight (91 Kgs for 5'4). I have had stomach problems on and off since I was very young. I have had digestion problems, acidity, bloated stomach, piles etc many many times but I never went for any liver function tests and no doctor ever recommended that. Recently I was exposed to a needle stick injury which had me worried regarding contracting HCV. By the way, I have never had sex and I  am still a virgin. 4 days after the possible exposure I tested negative by Anti-HCV test also negative for HBsAg, but my SGOT and SGPT levels were quite high; 143 and 256 respectively. Then, I took a pure herbal liver treatment for a couple of days and tested negative for both HCV and HBV at 6 weeks mark, but this time my SGOT and SGPT were slightly lower; 102, 149 respectively). Now I have tested negative again for both HCV and HBV at 9 weeks mark.

Is it possible to have elevated SGOT and SGPT just 4 days post to a possible exposure while the anti-HCV test isn't yet detecting any antibodies? Is it a good indication that I have tested negative at 9 weeks, or I am still at very much risk? Is Anti-HCV Elisa test reliable at all or PCR is the only option for me now?

[spectda]

Hi,
You seem really fearful that you have hep c, but some of us are telling you that
fatty liver disease if you have it can be just as devastating to your liver as hep c. Take it very seriously and try to help yourself before it becomes very serious if it hasn't already. Your doctor can only know if you truely have fatty liver or nash (advanced fatty liver disease) by doing more testing.

I don't mean to scare you, just want you to know that you can help yourself with this one. Losing weight and excercise are the only way to fight it, although I think they are studying drugs for it currently. It's not easy to make serious lifestyle changes, but you have to weigh what is most important to you. Your health is invaluable.

I imagine you do not have hep c.

Take Care,

Dave

[IAmTheWalrus]

I don't think you have hepatitis C since all the antibody tests were negative. I really don't know the actual time between infection and the appearance of antibodies in the blood. Most estimates for this time period range from 2 to 26 weeks. So, technically, you could be infected, but I think it unlikely. A negative antibody test (ELISA) would be much more conclusive at 26 weeks. Still, I think a negative test at 9 weeks indicates that is very unlikely that you are infected.

As for the elevated SGOT and SGPT, I think it is probably more likely that this is caused by something else. It could be due to steatosis, or any number of other causes. Many medications and some herbal supplements can cause elevated liver enzymes. Make sure the doctor knows everything you are taking, including herbal supplements and OTC drugs (like Tylenol, Ibuporfen, Naproxin Sodium, etc.) because these could be the cause and may indicate a change in medications.

I would not ignore the elevated enzymes and suppose it to be important to follow up on and determine the cause.

AS I said, I think it unlikely you are infected, but if it really bothers you, you could ask your doctor for a PCR RNA test, but I would wait until the 26 week mark. That way you can be really sure and not be second guessing.  In any case, I think the best thing to do is to make sure your specialist deals with liver diseases routinely, preferable a hepatologist, and follow his or her advice.

Good luck to you. Hope this is nothing but maybe some reactions to meds or something. If it is "fatty liver", I hope some lifestyle changes will resolve the problem.

Brent

[creativekut]

Hello IAmTheWalrus,

Thanks for your message. I will surely follow my doctor's advice. Do you also agree with nygirl7, Jakied and my doctor that I am almost HCV free.

[creativekut]

Jakied thanks a lot. It is really comforting to hear that you are 99% sure about my recent negative test. It means that my elevated enzymes do not relate to a possible HCV infection. Waiting for 6 weeks isn't going to be easy for me. But I have no other option, I guess.

[IAmTheWalrus]

Fatty liver can be serious and can even lead to liver failure. It could definitely cause elevated liver enzymes.

Losing weight might improve a lot of things for you. Continued obesity also puts you at risk for type II diabetes later in life. Your doctor's advice seems good to me.

[Jakied]

A nine week neg puts you in safe territory.  Most people test pos after 50 days or so.

Try not to worry.  Wait 6 weeks, get a final anitbody test.  I am 99% certain it will be

neg.  lose some weight, like your doctor says.

[creativekut]

Thank you nygirl7 for your prompt reply. I consulted a specialist today who saw all my reports and then did ultrasound on my full abdomen. He thinks that I have a fatty liver. He has advised me to lose weight and has also given me some vitamins/supplements. Like you, he also thinks that HCV isn't the issue here. He is saying that if after a couple of weeks my enzymes do not drop further, then he would do some more tests. However, I am worried about HCV because I have read on this forum and elsewhere on the internet that simple anti-HCV tests can't detect antibodies for very long time. I have tested negative at 9 weeks mark, so I don't know if I should keep on testing.  

[nygirl7]

Pure herbal liver supplements won't do a darn thing to get rid of hepC if you do have it so save your money. Liver enzymes go up and down all of the time on their own however elevated enzymes like yours are suggestive that something is wrong with your liver. HepC is not transmitted via sex like an STD it is a blood to blood borne disease.

Something is definitely going on with your hepatic system so either way it seems you need a good doctor to do some serious tests. If you do not have antibodies you do not have hepC - there is no reason for a PCR.