I went for my follow up on my liver biopsy and blood work. the result of my biopsy was
Chronic hep C, Geno type 1A, Grade 2 to focal Grade 3, stage 1 to focal stage 2
minimal fatty change less than 5%
no eveidence of streatohepatitis

My blood work showed,
Hep C PCR Quant - 2240000 IU/ML
AST- 71
ALT -81

there are many other tests but I don't know which ones to pay close attention to.

can someone take a look at these labs and let me know how bad this is.

My doctor told me that the treatment is only 30% effective in African Americans. He said he doesn't know why but it seems to work better for whites. He wants to start my treatment April 28th. I have to have a colonoscopy, an eye exam and a psych eval first. What is that all about?

can someone chime in and let me know a little something.

Thanks

I went for my follow up on my liver biopsy and blood work. the result of my biopsy was
Chronic hep C, Geno type 1A, Grade 2 to focal Grade 3, stage 1 to focal stage 2
minimal fatty change less than 5%
no eveidence of streatohepatitis

My blood work showed,
Hep C PCR Quant - 2240000 IU/ML
AST- 71
ALT -81

there are many other tests but I don't know which ones to pay close attention to.

can someone take a look at these labs and let me know how bad this is.

My doctor told me that the treatment is only 30% effective in African Americans. He said he doesn't know why but it seems to work better for whites. He wants to start my treatment April 28th. I have to have a colonoscopy, an eye exam and a psych eval first. What is that all about?

can someone chime in and let me know a little something.

Thanks

The prevalence rates of HCV in African Americans is the highest of any demographic group. The prevention and outreach efforts into the African American community has the lowest funding. Would it be too cynical of me to think it might have to do with a large number of uninsured (and disparity in healthcare in general) in that demographic?

The risks of residual problems after treatment may be higher in AA's than in whites, too. This may be due to the propensity of AA patients to have severe and life threatening anemias and other problems (tendancy toward diabetes and high blood pressure) on treatment. The good news is that progression of disease is lower in AA's and there is little evidence for the actual need for treatment IF lifestyle changes are taken very seriously (no alcohol, no drugs, no smoking and vigilence on toxins in the environment) A study of WWII AA veterans whose blood was taken and stored over 50 years ago found that none died of liver disease after all that time and none of them knew they had the virus.

AA males have the highest rates of liver cancer so, treat or don't treat (you do have a choice with those results), be very sure to have regular check ups for it. This risk is not necessarily diminished by interferon treatments. It i diminished for you as you are not anywhere near cirrhosis of the liver. In fact, if you treat and DO NOT respond to the treatment, improvements in fibrosis are not necessarily durable after one year( greater percentage that it is not) and the treatment may cause faster progression than if you did not treat in the first place. That means on the best day, you have a 70% chance of treatment not achieving the SVR you hope to get out of it.

No sign of NASH is fabulous news! It means you control the fat in your diet well or are probably a normal weight person. Excellent.

I am not telling you not to treat. What I do suggest is that you do a lot of research specific to your questions before making this decision. There has been a lot of effort to market the medications to doctors. Jeepers, 30% is a very high SVR number from the ones I have seen. No research has proven that viral load and disease severity are even linked, but that is what the medication does. And remember, clinical trials are not taking just anyone off the street to treat. They take highly selected people and may drop people who show signs of not responding to treatment so they won't show up in the numbers.

So, this is what I have gleaned from the studies I have read over the last 14 years or so. There is also information on the web*site below my name or you can email me if you wish. My name is thanbey at the site below.

I hope this helps,

thanbey

Hi Maypo,

Why had you gone for a biopsy? Have you known for a long time that you have hep c? How long, if you don't mind my asking? 'Cause if it is decades, as with me for example, and you do not experience any symptoms or decremental effects on your life or happiness, I am perplexed that your doctor would be so quick to treat. Forgive me please for saying it, but an african american with genotype 1A is a poor prospect for successful tx, and your test results are not particularly alarming.
I'd be interested in your answers. Mostly 'cause I'm so confused by the doc's seeming certainty that you should treat.
In the meantime, if you do decide to go that way, the things I believe from my amateur readings to be linked statistically to successful viral 'elimination' through interferon tx are: low body fat (as thanbey says, your liver fat absence suggests good things here), enhanced intake of zinc and vitamin E (yes I know many nutrients are good for us, or are supposed to be good for the liver, but these are the only two where there is consistent research saying they improve your chances of successful treatment with interferon, possibly lecithin as well), a diet based on protein and fresh fruits and vegetables, NO alcohol, smoking or other intentional ingestion of poisons. There is also some evidence that all those things we think of as important for heart health seem to help the liver, and maybe help success in or recovery from treatment. That is, exercise, moderate, balanced diet, and so on. Since the liver is such a heavily vascular organ maybe it is not so surprising that things that are good for the cardiovascular system are good for the liver, and things that damage one (e.g., smoking) damage the other as well. These lifestyle choices may make a difference in your chance of beating the odds with treatment.

Hope this is of some help. But challenge your doctor--make sure his thinking and advice are truly tailored to your individual case and needs.

Luck!

sean

I am a 51 yr old female African American who has never used drugs or alcohol. I quit smoking about 20 yrs ago. I try to eat right although I am somewhat over weight.

I worked in a hemodialysis clinic and everyone had to have labs for all communicable diseases every year. The last year I worked I tested + for HCV. I retired after that. I didn't want to give this to anyone else since I'm not even sure how I contacted it.

I have tested + for HCV for the past 10 yrs. I don't know what my doctor's reason was for wanting me to have the biopsy. All I know is after having it I feel full all the time.

I take vit E, milk thistle and vit C everyday. I don't know if it helps but I don't think it has hurt. I have made an appointment to have a colonic to keep my colon clean. I plan on having one every 2 weeks.

To be honest, I would love to treat this diesease with herbal therapy. I simply don't know which natrual herbs to take and in what doses to keep my liver as healthy as possible.

If anyone has tried herbs and have any light to shed on the subject please share what you know.

Thanks

I am a 51 yr old female African American who has never used drugs or alcohol. I quit smoking about 20 yrs ago. I try to eat right although I am somewhat over weight.

I worked in a hemodialysis clinic and everyone had to have labs for all communicable diseases every year. The last year I worked I tested + for HCV. I retired after that. I didn't want to give this to anyone else since I'm not even sure how I contacted it.

I have tested + for HCV for the past 10 yrs. I don't know what my doctor's reason was for wanting me to have the biopsy. All I know is after having it I feel full all the time.

I take vit E, milk thistle and vit C everyday. I don't know if it helps but I don't think it has hurt. I have made an appointment to have a colonic to keep my colon clean. I plan on having one every 2 weeks.

To be honest, I would love to treat this diesease with herbal therapy. I simply don't know which natrual herbs to take and in what doses to keep my liver as healthy as possible.

If anyone has tried herbs and have any light to shed on the subject please share what you know.

Thanks

I would be willing to bet that you contracted HCV through the workplace. The prevalence in the hemodialysis clinics is high. You can do a medscape search ont htis, if you wish. I hope you received a good settlement!

Once again, check out the drop down menu on the website below my name for articles and information.

The colonics are fine if you feel they help, but they don't do much for HCV.

best to you,

thanbey