Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
As some of you might remember me talking about type 1 being cleared at week 4, may do an additional 36 weeks as required, and consider treatment done.
Well I've been talking about this forever now, but didn't have the proof that some doctors wanted to see.
Well on of my faithful member has found the proof need for those type 1 who will be cleared at week 4, and just do the 36 additional week and be done with tx.
Of course this will apply to those with low viral load.
You can read this article, at Hepccentral.org
Love & Respect,
Mckenzie
One day at the time.
Well I've been talking about this forever now, but didn't have the proof that some doctors wanted to see.
Well on of my faithful member has found the proof need for those type 1 who will be cleared at week 4, and just do the 36 additional week and be done with tx.
Of course this will apply to those with low viral load.
You can read this article, at Hepccentral.org
Love & Respect,
Mckenzie
One day at the time.
I'll try googlicious.
There's a dash, is this the site? Thank you.
Mckenzie, I really appreciate your comments on this site.
Thank you!!!
ElleeB
as you know, i am geno 1a, and only doing 24wks.
Ive asked my doctor, and she said that I was a special case, she rarely ever recommends only 24wks for genotype 1.. but because of my viral load and my bodies unsuccessful clearing attempt that 24wks should do the job.. and if needed, I could always do the full 48.
hmm, for being such a "special case", you seem to give me more information than my doctor! lol
Shorter Therapy for HCV Genotypes 1/4
Researchers continue to explore shorter treatment durations for chronic hepatitis C patients who respond rapidly to interferon-based therapy.
As reported in the August 2008 issue of Gastroenterology, P. Ferenci and colleagues from Austria studied more than 500 genotype 1 and 4 patients treated with 180 mcg/week pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) plus 1000-1200 mg/day weight-based ribavirin.
Among 143 patients who achieved rapid virological response (RVR) undetectable HCV RNA at week 4 and completed 24 weeks of therapy, the overall sustained virological response (SVR) rate 24 weeks after treatment completion was 80.4% (78.8% for genotype 1; 86.7% for genotype 4).
Younger age, lower body fat, low baseline HCV viral load (? 400,000 IU/mL), and genotype 4 were significant predictors of RVR.
Once a patient achieved RVR, however, no additional baseline factors significantly predicted sustained response.
This prospective study confirms that a 24-week regimen of peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day is appropriate in genotype 1 and 4 patients with a low baseline HCV RNA level who achieve an RVR by week 4 of therapy, the researchers concluded.
Other recent studies of tailored treatment duration based on early response were reviewed in the February 2008 HCV Advocate, and shorter therapy for genotype 2/3 was discussed in the August 2008 issue.
The article was in the hepcadvocate.org website, my bad.
One of my member told me she was doing 40 weeks as per her last visit with her gastro, would you please contact me, I completely forgot who it is. Damn brainfog, lol.
This is wonderful news for us type 1, I've known about this for a couple of years now, had been told by my RNR or read in one of my books, but not it is actualy happening finally.
This is great news in the hepatitis world.
Love & Respect,
Mckenzie
One day at the time.