Hepatitis C Reactive Diagnosed

[Muhammad]

I got my Medical Test for Hepatitis B & C. I got the following Results.

Hbs Ag(ECLIA)
Patients Value______________0.282
Cut of Value________________1.000
Conclusion_________________"No-Reactive"

Anti HCV (ELISA)
Patients Value______________1.083
Cut of Value________________0.756
Conclusion_________________"REACTIVE"

Antibodies to T. Pallidum (ABBOTT)
By Immunochromatography_____________"Non-Reactive"

Test                           Result                             Reference            Range
ALAT(GPT)                 46.9                                upto  41              u / I

I am told by medical advisor that I suffert from Hepatitis C "Reactive" and that my liver enzyme level must be under 41 whereas it is 46.9  
Please anyone could help me either I need treatment or not and also whats risk level at this stage.
Is there any difference between Hepatitis C "Reactive" & Hepatitis C "Positive"?

Thank you .

[medicmommy]

Time to eat some crow...I stand corrected...I revisited the research that I had read months ago (while I was still doing treatment) and you are correct...clearing hep c, no matter the genotype, does not give you immunities to it...Poo. I have no idea why I read that and digested it differently than now...Of course, there's a lot of things the I'm finding I remembered incorrectly while brain fogged...I was so sure, though...sigh....Well, the direction of Hep C treatment seems to be on the right path though...I think we will see medical practice in the future lean towards boosting our immune systems more to fight off things like cancers and crazy germs that wreak havoc on our population...But until then...~Melinda

[Trinity4]

"Since we only deal with geno's 1-4 primarily in the US,  what geno are you referring to?"

That statement may be confusing.  What I'm referring to is what genotype of hepc gives you immunity if you contract it and your body fights it off? There is no immunity to HCV or genotype.

[Trinity4]

Since we only deal with geno's 1-4 primarily in the US,  what geno are you referring to?
Also, I still disagree with your immunity/viral load comment. The immune systems is constantly fighting off the virus, regardless of whether it's healthy or not.  It's the virus that attacks the liver over a period of years, whether the immune systems remains healthy or not.  Chronic mean despite the immune systems status, it will never fight off the virus.  Hepc attacks your liver regardless, that is what it does.  
Henceforth, many people who do not have symptoms of hepc for years and years (such as myself) find out they are a stage 3/4 when diagnosed.  Never sick a day in my life due to hepc.  The disease is designed to ravage the liver whether the viral load is high or low and whether your immune system is ramped up or not. May take years, may not but it does.  That is one of the reasons we are warned about the increased likihood of developing cirrhosis after age 60.  Most people's liver has been under attack for years and years and the damage is extensive.  Of course they were fighting the disease off all those years but too much damage has occured and cirrhosis is the next stage.  
Despite our differences on how the disease progresses I'm sure we agree eradicating it is the only guarantee no more damage will occur.
Trin

[medicmommy]

In regards to the immunity comment, actually, if you have the antibodies to a particular genotype of hep c, it does give you immunities to that geno. Just like the vaccination or an exposure to Hep B or A is supposed to make you antibody positive and provide protection...And, as to the viral load, I didn't mean that you wouldn't get damage if your immune system was strong, only that the progression of the disease is slowed significantly. When your immune system takes a hit, your viral load climbs allowing the Hep C to gain a foot hold. When it is healthy, your viral load is held at a lower threshold and your body can fight back the virus. Why do you think we are given interferon to ramp up our immune system at the same time we are given a viral suppressant to squash the virus down when trying to kill off hep c? The interferon isn't enough on its own...~Melinda

[Trinity4]

"There is evidence that a strong immune system will ward off hep C for years, but once it fails, the viral load rises and the liver damage it causes will accelerate."

You can have extensive liver damage regardless of viral load.  The progression of liver damage is not contingent on your viral load.  Viral load fluctuates constantly.  A strong immune system does not prevent liver damage either.  The disease attacks the liver regardless of viral load and inflammation in the liver can increase or decrease throughout the progression of the disease.  Your immune system can be so ramped up during different phases of the disease that your viral load can actually increase but it doesn't mean your liver is suffering more damage.  
It depends on the individual, lifestyle and how the disease attacks each of us.  Usually slow moving but not always.  
Trinity

[GreatBird]

You can have hep C antibodies and may have cleared it on your own. (This would be like getting chicken pox and having the immunities to it.)
================================================================

Actually it isn't because having HCV antibodies doesn't give any immunity. It just indicates exposure.

[medicmommy]

Ditto on the above info. You can have hep C antibodies and may have cleared it on your own. (This would be like getting chicken pox and having the immunities to it.) The PCR test, which check to see if you have any active virus in your system will show if you have active Hep C (which would mean you could give it you someone else). Hep C is a blood-borne virus. This means it can only be transmitted from your blood coming in contact with an opening in the skin of another person, or by your blood being put in them somehow (like a contaminated needle stick, tattoo, dentistry equipment, blood transfusion, etc.) Ever become "blood brothers" with someone as a kid? -Kind of makes you shudder now, eh? It is rarely transmitted by sex (unless there was "gorilla sex involved?) and those who have hep C are cautioned to have their own personal hygiene tools (razors, tweezers, fingernail clippers, etc.) separate from their family's. There is evidence that a strong immune system will ward off hep C for years, but once it fails, the viral load rises and the liver damage it causes will accelerate. Also, the higher the viral load, the easier it is to transmit the disease...
If you have a viral load, you will be checked for a genotype (strain) and it's subtype of hep C as well. Genotype 1 is the most stubborn to respond to treatment and has a longer treatment time. Types 2 and 3 respond better, and thus have a shorter treatment time. 40% of Geno 1 (A or B) respond to treatment, 80% of type 2 and 3 (A or B) respond. If you are diagnosed with Hep C, you have time to decide on whether to treat or not. This is a disease of DECADES. Take a breath, learn as much as you can, be careful who you tell, and get a hepatologist (usually much better than a GI doc). A family Dr is rarely informed enough to do a good job with addressing the health issues that Hep C and its treatment poses...Good luck! ~Melinda

[Looks4Path]

though I am relatively new to this site let me try to explain what I know to you. I think it means that your blood test showed signs called antibodies in your blood meaning you have been exposed to Hepatitis C. Antibodies are markers that say you have been exposed to the virus, but does not necessarily mean that you have the virus now.  Your doctor will run a test to see if there is a active Hep C virus or not, called a viral load. Some people get Hep C, but clear it on their own, but in others it does not go away on its own and can cause problems down the road.

Hope this helps. Anyone else feel free to jump in here and correct me!

[baby_bom_bom]

can someone explain hepatitis c reactive to me in laments terms... PLEASE?????

[frijole]

I think you have shown to have hep C antibodies.  Now you must take another test (a PCR test) to determine if you have active virus.  You should be given a quantitative test - this will give you a count.  If you have virus within the range of the test, then you have a chronic infection.

Is there any difference between Hepatitis C "Reactive" & Hepatitis C "Positive"?

I am not sure.  I believer the ELISA is just the antibody test and you are postive for the antibodies

frijole