viral load

[gazal]

hi everybody.i am new here.my husband has been recently diagnosed with hep c.The viral load is 9.8 millionIU/ML.Plz i want to know is this viral load high or low.Thanks

[adamben101]

Just to clear up, the 99% chance that you have HCV just because you're husband has it is absolutely FALSE.  In fact, in most cases when a person is diagnosed, the spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend does NOT contract it.  That doesn't mean that you shouldn't get tested.  Just trying to keep facts and figures correct.  Best of luck!

[gazal]

thanks a lot mr bill for explaining in detail.good luck to u too

[Bill1954]

Viral load is of little significance in regards to disease progression. It’s main function is to gauge response to treatment meds once therapy has been initiated. Yes, this is counterintuitive, I realize. Unlike HIV, Hep B, etc where viral load is all important, in HCV, it does not necessarily correlate with disease severity.

SGPT is also known as ALT; these are blood tests that can indicate inflammation of the liver. Unfortunately, other things can cause elevations in these markers; they only offer a glimpse of the entire picture.

9.8 million isn’t a tremendously elevated viral load; we have patients in this community that have readings >75,000,000 and they respond readily to therapy.

The best way to determine if treatment is urgent is to undergo a liver biopsy; a fine needle is inserted into the liver and a sample of tissue is examined under a microscope. If considerable scarring, or fibrosis is present, then treatment is generally recommended.

Good luck—

Bill

[gazal]

what is sgpt?i dnt have any idea whats that?
We had an ultrasound and mashalah its perfectly fine.No scarring or fibrosis.This viral load is very concerning.take care

[asad99799]

hi: i hope u will be fine.the viral is not important,important is liver that how much it is damaged? what is the sgpt of your hussbend? and if your hussbend is possitive from hepatitis c then i am sorry to say but it is true that there any 99% chances that u r also detected from virus also show your childs if u have then show them to doctors.


good luck to u


Asad

[copyman]

The viral load is high but viral load really means nothing. It is only helpful when someone is treating to measure how effective the drugs are working.

Most importantly the viral load has nothing to do with severity of the disease or how much liver damage the person has. Focus more on certain blood test results, physical exam, etc.

See a good Hepatologist (liver specialist) to make a plan to treat.

Best of luck