I have a question about relapse and treatment. I am currently on treatment, was undetecable by PCR at week 8, was negative by qualitative test at week 12, and just took shot 22 this morning.

I just got to thinking and have kind of gotten myself worried. I know I have read numerous stories and instances of people who started treatment, and the virus decreased in quantity ... but then before treatment ended the virus rebounded and started increasing again. I know I have read numerouse instances and stories of people who cleared during treatment, and then relapsed after treatment ended. (I do think based upon my own recollections, that both of these situations {the relapses and the rebounds} are much more frequent with Peg-Intron than with Pegasys ... but that is my own feeling based upon two years of reading forum messages.)

Anyhow, my question is this ... Does anyone know of an instance where a patient responded very quickly to the treatment, cleared and reached a undetecable level, but then re-bounded while still on treatment? I mean simply enough, I am clear now (or was at week 8 and 12), and I am still on treatment having taken shot 22 today, but I still have 26 weeks left. I know that once I complete the 48 weeks and stop treatment, there is always a possiblity of relapse, but is there any probability that I could get re-infected or relapse while still on the treatment...or am I at least assured to remain negative for the next 26 weeks while still finishing the treatment regimen (& of course hopefully to reach SVR and remain clear for the rest of my life).

I have a question about relapse and treatment. I am currently on treatment, was undetecable by PCR at week 8, was negative by qualitative test at week 12, and just took shot 22 this morning.

I just got to thinking and have kind of gotten myself worried. I know I have read numerous stories and instances of people who started treatment, and the virus decreased in quantity ... but then before treatment ended the virus rebounded and started increasing again. I know I have read numerouse instances and stories of people who cleared during treatment, and then relapsed after treatment ended. (I do think based upon my own recollections, that both of these situations {the relapses and the rebounds} are much more frequent with Peg-Intron than with Pegasys ... but that is my own feeling based upon two years of reading forum messages.)

Anyhow, my question is this ... Does anyone know of an instance where a patient responded very quickly to the treatment, cleared and reached a undetecable level, but then re-bounded while still on treatment? I mean simply enough, I am clear now (or was at week 8 and 12), and I am still on treatment having taken shot 22 today, but I still have 26 weeks left. I know that once I complete the 48 weeks and stop treatment, there is always a possiblity of relapse, but is there any probability that I could get re-infected or relapse while still on the treatment...or am I at least assured to remain negative for the next 26 weeks while still finishing the treatment regimen (& of course hopefully to reach SVR and remain clear for the rest of my life).

Well, this one hurts to say, but there are NO guarantees. If the virus on your 8 and 12 week tests was undetectable, your chances of sustained response are good. If you are not genotype 1a, I'd even say very good. But in no case can you be CERTAIN that the virus will not return before the 48th week, or some time thereafter. Sorry, this is simply one of the harsh truths about interferon--as far as I know, as far as our experience here on this board tells us, and like that.

Yes, Pegasys seems to have a modest margin here, but it is not a certain, "silver bullet" either. Your chances are good, but you have to face the fact that there is still uncertainty in this field, or with this treatment.

Wish I could say different.

But, you're in a good group--early responders are the most likely sustained responders. So, look on the bright side.

Peace,

sean