Hordubal:

I just read your post under teh heading "Treatment for Relapse". Your posting contained some information that really interests me: Your post said:


I have tried two tx: IFN and Pegasys (both combo - with Ribavirin). And both failed (already breakthrough during the tx). Now I'm going to try CIFN.

Petr


You are discusssing the very issue I am concerned about at this time. I am in the midst of treatment at this time, having taken shot 23 yesterday morning. So far, so good. I was undetectable at week 8, and negative by a qualitative at week 12.

My concern is that I have heard of a 'breakthrough', but I am unsure as to what instances it happens in. You seem to be the one who tell me exactly how that happens.

You say you have had a breakthrough twice. Did you clear first? Or did you simply have a reduction in viral load and then an increase while still on treatment? What is your genotype? What was your initial viral load? At what point (week) in the treatment did you clear, and at what point (week) did you first become aware of the breakthrough?

I am not wishing to get personal here, but I do think your experiences could assist me in releiving my anxiety. I will take my 24 week tests within the next 10 days or so, and I guess I will know where I stand within a few weeks. But your knowledge and sharing of your experiences are appreciated!

Hi Terminator,
well, I was really negative (week 4) and then back positive (week 12). I was searching for explanation, "how it works", but it seems to me, that the background of this breakthrough phenomenon is not quite clear. The only thing I know is, that it is not very common.

After the first breakthrough during IFN+Riba therapy my doc have said, that the cause might be, that my body produces antibodies eliminating the interferon. And that the PEG-IFN should work, because the amount of the PEG-IFN in the body is not so high, hence the body should not produce the antibodies. But he added, that that is just a speculation. Unfortunately the result with PEG-IFN was the very same one.

My viral load before the tx was about 0.3 mil. UI/ml, now - some time after the tx about 2 mil. - but it is common that the viral load oscilates after the break of the tx.
And - yeah - genotype 1.

That's it

Petr