other's opinions please

[DSCVG]

I have Hep C. Geno type 1, stage 3 w fatty liver. Never overweight.
How long can stage 3 hold?
My impression is this is not that bad - correct?
Past treatment w 3 meds (over last 2-3 years).
Interferon w copegus
Albuferon w copegus
Infergin w copegus
I was told I was a "non responder" each time (but my viral loads DID respond some, to each)
Anyone similar & any info?
Thanks - not a "worrier" but Do want to know realism.

[mikesimon]

I agree. Though Pegasys was a lot easier for me to tolerate I don't believe that the change from Peg-Intron was a factor. I really don't know that the extended treatment was crucial either but, at the time, I felt it gave me the best shot. Looking back on it I think that the ribavirin dose might have been the deciding factor in my response. Mike

[nygirl7]

Just goes to show how important it is to get that riba dose right and not skimp on it as much as that stinks.  More and more I am seeing how crucial the riba really and truly is, when I first started to treat it was something that I took on faith but didn't really understand.

[mikesimon]

I treated with low dose ribavirin and standard dose regular interferon for a year and didn't clear. I treated again with a higher but inadequate dose of ribavirin and standard dose of Peg-Intron for 53 weeks and cleared late and relapsed. I treated again with a higher and adequate ribavirin dose and standard dose Pegasys for 73 weeks cleared at week 12 and have been SVR since 2004. Mike

[burned74]

I have not seen a study about resistance one way or the other. i was wondering if anyone else had knowledge of such a study.

most everyone knows that the chance of success with retreatment is very low. in my own situation, my VL went down from 10 million to 400K at 12 weeks but then increased to 1 million so I stopped treatment at 24 weeks.

I am assuming that the virus that remained in my body was resistant at that time (3 years ago). Is the virus that is there now (or 2 or 3 years from now) resistant to interferon?

If that were the case,it might be near impossible for retreatment with peg and riba to work now and it just might inhibit the chances of future success.

[jmjm530]

You misread my post. I was not referring to resistance at all (i.e. first question) , and my understanding is the same as yours.

[mikesimon]

If the question is about resistance I have never seen a study that suggests that treatment can result in resistance. If you have seen something that suggests or concludes this could you post it for me. Thanks, Mike