Probable viral breakthrough

[BThompson4]

I'm in week 59 of treatment and my pcr from three weeks ago showed 43 IU/ml.  I had 15 pcr's in a row show UND, so I imagine the 43 is accurate.

I am leaning heavily toward quitting tx tomorrow, after I talk to my post-transplant coordinator.  The last ten weeks have been very bad and I don't see 13 more being all that beneficial.  If the 43 is an error, I will still have 59 weeks done and may get svr.  Doesn't seem worth another 13 weeks if the 43 is accurate; going the last 13 probably wouldn't make a difference at all if I am measurable now.

My biopsy in March at least showed drop in fibrosis from F2 down to between F0 and F1, so I can probably hold on for teleprevir.  Might be only 24 weeks of that treatment versus 13 weeks more of SOC that probably won't work anyway.

geno 1a; post-transplant; had first neg pcr at week 22

[mikesimon]

I hope that the 43 was erroneous and that this one is clear. Your March biopsy looks very nice so that's good news. Good luck, Mike

[kcmike]

Opps!  I missed that the 43/IU's was weeks ago and you already had another sample at the lab.

[kcmike]

I hope that they will rerun your specimen just in case of an error.  Talk with your TP physician and maybe draw a new specimen, whatever you do make it clear in your mind it is what they are saying!  I was recurrent HCV,GT1b, 6 months post transplant.  Began tx 10-20-06.  UND at week 12.  I am now in 42/48 and just had blood work sent off to Quest for Heptimax TMA.  It would be disheartening for me to breakthrough at this point, but not a backbreaker.  40% of transplant patients drop out of treatment, at least we know we can tolerate treatment.  If it happens to me, I will also wait for new meds.  My biopsy at beginning of treatment was grade 2, stage 0.  

Best wishes for you my friend,
Mike

[BThompson4]

I'll probably see how the pcr from yesterday turns out before quiting.  If it is positive I'm definitely quiting.  I don't see how only ten or twelve weeks of tx after clearing could be effective at all in getting to svr.  Weeks 62 to 72 are going to be really hard, and I need some reasonable expectations or success to be motivated to do them.

Hope everyone is well.

[susan400]

Speaking of NYGirl, she's going to be doing her 6 month blood draw sometime next week, let's all say some prayers for her continued SVR!!   She needs the :)   from us.

Susan

[wyntre9]

Oh no. . . . . .

Remember NYGirl had a post tx PCR that detected the virus and it was a lab error?

And isn't 43 very low. . .some tests would still consider that UND, right?

But I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide.

I know how devastating this news must be but it COULD be wrong!

Hugs,

wyntre

[FlGuy]

Although you situation is generally beyond me, I have a different take on the PCR.  If you had 15 und's in a row I'd be suspicious of the 43.  Before you make any desision based on that single piece of information maybe revaliadte it with another pcr.

[Forseegood]

so sorry to hear of this, I hope you can come to some resolution to your satisfaction...perhaps talk to some other consult docs? be well....