Next Biopsy - Hepatitis Message Board

crybabytoo · 10-09-2003, 11:30 AM

Its almost time for another biopsy. M,65YO,1b,47 alt/8 ast,no fibrosis in late '01, HCV for 20 years. Since my last one showed no fibrosis, would I be a good candidate for the FibroSpect non-invasive blood test which is supposed to show 0-1 OR 2-4 stage damage? Or, would a sonogram do just as well?

All comments appreciated ...

thanbey · 10-09-2003, 05:12 PM

If you want to have a biopsy for your own information, okay, but why?

If you do not drink alcohol or smoke, have a normal weight and take good care of yourself, your chances of progression before you are 145 are pretty low, my friend.

I hope this helps,

thanbey

crybabytoo · 10-09-2003, 06:25 PM

Thanbey, Disregarding the flippancy of your "145" remark, I am trying to follow the guidelins of my gastro, ie; biopsy every 3-5 years. If I have progressed to serious liver damage for whatever reason (alcohol, smoking, or anything else), I would have to cosider retreatment, even though I could not tolerate the pegintron side effects the first time. Maybe pegasys? Anyway, I thought maybe someone has had experience with Fibrospect, rather than a liver biopsy, to determine liver damage...

thanbey · 10-09-2003, 08:09 PM

Sorry about that, crybaby. I wasn't trying to be flip. It has been said that the lifespan of the liver would be about 145 if a human being lived that long. Anyway, sorry.

Unless something has changed, a person over the age of 65 isn't a good candidate for interferon therapy. I was counting two years for another biopsy (01-03) and that seems too soon for another biopsy, particularly if you have little to no damage at last biopsy.

If you are a drinker and smoker (again, not being flip here, but dead serious) combined with age over 65 at the time of the biopsy, you are unlikely to benefit from interferon. Sustained response rates are low for htose in this age group and the risk of complications much higher, for obvious reasons.

What test you decide on matters far less than the lifestyle choices you make to stay healthy and to prevent damage to your liver.

I hoep this helps,