question regarding alts ast while on solvadi ledipasvir trial

[johnny679]

Hi I am trial solvadi ledipasvir ( harvoni ) all is going well . I am surprised and wondering even though I am undetected at week 8 , my alt ast in week 4 were alt  52 ast  37 and week 8 alt  51 & ast  36 .
I know they are on the higher side of normal but  shouldn't they be lower by now ? and will that impact my chance svr ?. Any opinions or experiences would be must appreciated as I seem to see a lot of people while on treatment have much lower alt and ast which is why I ask . Thank you .

[johnny679]

Hi Kim  so so true  Chicken Marsala?  (Has wine in it ) haha many of us think alike at least I know I'm not crazy . As I cirrhotic who has failed treatment incivo the thought of failing again plays on my mind which I way I think I am over looking to many details  as cirrhosis and hcv is terrible mix .
I hope to be joining you and dee1956 on the svr list soon .

[Livelife777]

Hi Johnny.  I do believe that we are all so desperate to get rid of this virus, that even the slightest situation outside of the norm we begin to second guess everything.  I know that's how Tx was for me.  I would read and reread every # on my labs and twist them around wondering why they didn't sit perfectly in the mid normal range.  Is my virus back?  Should I have eaten that Chicken Marsala?  (Has wine in it).  Did I take my pill to early?  You get the drift?
Everyone has a unique range indicative of our genetic make-up.  That's why with labs there is always a range, some higher and some lower.  In fitness it's the "Set "Point".  It's actually where are body feels more comfortable, and believe me that's where these #s stay.  
I'm also cirrhotic and have cleared the virus.  Had been reading how others on Tx there ALTs and ASTs were 17, 19 ect.  Mine were always 38, 42 ect.
They never did go into the low range.  That's just me!  They are still normal, just not normal to low.  I don't believe that represents clearence or non.  At least for me I still cleared, and they continue to be on the high end even tho my MELD is a 6.
Wouldn't worry as that may be what your "Normal" tends to be.  Sounds like your doing everything right.
Sending positive thoughts
.....Kim

[johnny679]

Thanks appreciate I was over the moon to get in trial . I asked the doctor and they said they would of liked to see my alt ast come down a little more by now I guess I just to wait gee I hope this works

[Dee1956]

You are on a brand new tx which only a couple of people have started so it will be difficult to find information.
But....during the other tx's this was/is a normal occurrence.  You are fighting a  hard to kill virus.
In the past it would take 48 or 72 weeks to kill it.

While I thought these new drugs would be much easier I can see from others that the symptoms seem similar, though less in severity as well as length of time, which I guess is normal as you are fighting the same virus.

If you are concerned you could ask your doctor

I am very happy for you to have gotten the Harvoni.

[Dee1956]

Hey there! Congratulations for getting on Harvoni.  I just wanted to say hi, you are doing well.  AST/ALT often go up on tx.

[johnny679]

yeah tried to find info on the net but as these interferon free treatments are so new not much information would be good to know if there is any correlation between higher alt ast while treating and the chance of relapse ,

[Sullivas6]

I just completed in Sept, 24 weeks solvadi & ribosphere course. I started with above normal alt/ast values. In fact I had higher values for years, but by the end of my treatment they were normal and on the low side of normal. During my course I saw fluctuations but the trend over time was down. I hope you experience the same.