I agree as I was probably infected in the early 70's and clean and sober since may 1987 so with the healthy change in life style I only progressed to a 3/4 for liver damage. Researching the older articles really made me scared and angry, it was this forum that gave me up to date information and the support and courage to get through the treatment no matter what. It also inspired me to do pro bono work for the new agency for Hep C we are trying to get more up to date information by once a month having people come in, still very hard to get past the stigma of Hep C much like the past when dealing with profesonal and public about Addictions
garfield said
Oct 22, 2013
Hi gerewolf,
when you like to read up yourself about this questions, download following free pdf :
-- Edited by garfield on Tuesday 22nd of October 2013 03:13:26 PM
mallani said
Oct 21, 2013
Hi Gerald,
This is a very interesting topic, and it is confusing as many of the articles are old. Remember, HepC has only been recognised for 23 years. This is what I have learned from Research papers, Hepatologists and Pathologists:
Many factors affect the progression of fibrosis. Some of these are age of infection, time since infection, presence of other liver diseases ( HIV, HBV), male sex (up until menopause when females become equally affected), continuing to drink alcohol, Viral Load, ALT levels (supposedly proportional to the amount of liver inflammation) and possibly Genotype (some Researchers think Geno 3 and 1 progress faster).
During the first 10 years of infection, progression of fibrosis is usually slow. During the second decade of infection, progression of fibrosis increases. In the third decade of infection, progression is rapid. In other words, it is non-linear, and many have tried to quantify it.
Many papers state that all patients with untreated chronic HCV will eventually develop cirrhosis. Some researchers even have 'proven' that it takes 30 years to develop cirrhosis. One paper even stated that the mean age for developing cirrhosis in males was 65 years. This interested me, as I was 65 y.o. when diagnosed with cirrhosis! Other papers give different ages for the development of cirrhosis, based on the age at the time of infection. A lot of this has yet to be generally accepted , but one thing is clear. The old teaching that only 15-30% of chronic HepC patients will develop cirrhosis is no longer valid. All HepC patients develop liver damage eventually, and if left untreated, this damage will continue and accelerate with age.
Providing you do not have any other risk factors, it is best to assume that chronic HepC is a progressive disease. Only a biopsy or Fibroscan will tell you where you are, and whether Rx is urgent.
-- Edited by mallani on Tuesday 22nd of October 2013 09:26:46 AM
Loopy Lisa said
Oct 20, 2013
I have had Hep C for possibly 20 years, I have no visable fibroses with a biospsy or scan. I know that females are only between 5% - !5% likely to develop cirrohis or cancer. So I wouldn;t think those statiscs are far off.
garfield said
Oct 20, 2013
Hi gerewolf,
yes the figures are correct. But unfortunately nobody knows to which group he will belong.
So therapy is the only way to reduce the risk. But I would never begin now with therapy a few months prior approval of sofosbuvir.
cheers
gerewolf said
Oct 20, 2013
A doctor told me that 50% of hep c patients don't develop liver damage, especially the ones who have had the infection a long time. Of the lower 50%, he said 25% develop some liver damage but don't get the more severe damage (cancer, etc.). Of the lowest 25%, some develop cirrosis and about 5% cancer. Are those figures correct?
Kellie said
Oct 20, 2013
This is a very interesting subject as the lowering of estrogen levels at menopause can effect the liver as far as fibrosis goes. Here's a link of an old (2006) article.
I did notice myself when I went into peri and then menopause my HCV symptoms increased radically with increased vl, alts, alts, fatigue, aches and pains, all around feeling bad. I started HRT during perimenopause, and it really helped. So I think it might be good to keep it in mind.
I do believe that estrogen has protective qualities for the liver's of infected women. I believe my liver would have gone down hill pretty quickly without the HRT and in the end, treatment.
More research should be done on this -here's the link -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17005762
-- Edited by Kellie on Monday 21st of October 2013 12:25:08 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_C
I agree as I was probably infected in the early 70's and clean and sober since may 1987 so with the healthy change in life style I only progressed to a 3/4 for liver damage. Researching the older articles really made me scared and angry, it was this forum that gave me up to date information and the support and courage to get through the treatment no matter what. It also inspired me to do pro bono work for the new agency for Hep C we are trying to get more up to date information by once a month having people come in, still very hard to get past the stigma of Hep C much like the past when dealing with profesonal and public about Addictions
Hi gerewolf,
when you like to read up yourself about this questions, download following free pdf :
The 2013 Short Guide to Hepatitis C http://www.flyingpublisher.com/0013.php
cheers
-- Edited by garfield on Tuesday 22nd of October 2013 03:13:26 PM
Hi Gerald,
This is a very interesting topic, and it is confusing as many of the articles are old. Remember, HepC has only been recognised for 23 years. This is what I have learned from Research papers, Hepatologists and Pathologists:
Many factors affect the progression of fibrosis. Some of these are age of infection, time since infection, presence of other liver diseases ( HIV, HBV), male sex (up until menopause when females become equally affected), continuing to drink alcohol, Viral Load, ALT levels (supposedly proportional to the amount of liver inflammation) and possibly Genotype (some Researchers think Geno 3 and 1 progress faster).
During the first 10 years of infection, progression of fibrosis is usually slow. During the second decade of infection, progression of fibrosis increases. In the third decade of infection, progression is rapid. In other words, it is non-linear, and many have tried to quantify it.
Many papers state that all patients with untreated chronic HCV will eventually develop cirrhosis. Some researchers even have 'proven' that it takes 30 years to develop cirrhosis. One paper even stated that the mean age for developing cirrhosis in males was 65 years. This interested me, as I was 65 y.o. when diagnosed with cirrhosis! Other papers give different ages for the development of cirrhosis, based on the age at the time of infection. A lot of this has yet to be generally accepted , but one thing is clear. The old teaching that only 15-30% of chronic HepC patients will develop cirrhosis is no longer valid. All HepC patients develop liver damage eventually, and if left untreated, this damage will continue and accelerate with age.
Providing you do not have any other risk factors, it is best to assume that chronic HepC is a progressive disease. Only a biopsy or Fibroscan will tell you where you are, and whether Rx is urgent.
-- Edited by mallani on Tuesday 22nd of October 2013 09:26:46 AM
I have had Hep C for possibly 20 years, I have no visable fibroses with a biospsy or scan. I know that females are only between 5% - !5% likely to develop cirrohis or cancer. So I wouldn;t think those statiscs are far off.
Hi gerewolf,
yes the figures are correct. But unfortunately nobody knows to which group he will belong.
So therapy is the only way to reduce the risk. But I would never begin now with therapy a few months prior approval of sofosbuvir.
cheers
A doctor told me that 50% of hep c patients don't develop liver damage, especially the ones who have had the infection a long time. Of the lower 50%, he said 25% develop some liver damage but don't get the more severe damage (cancer, etc.). Of the lowest 25%, some develop cirrosis and about 5% cancer. Are those figures correct?
This is a very interesting subject as the lowering of estrogen levels at menopause can effect the liver as far as fibrosis goes. Here's a link of an old (2006) article.
I did notice myself when I went into peri and then menopause my HCV symptoms increased radically with increased vl, alts, alts, fatigue, aches and pains, all around feeling bad. I started HRT during perimenopause, and it really helped. So I think it might be good to keep it in mind.
I do believe that estrogen has protective qualities for the liver's of infected women. I believe my liver would have gone down hill pretty quickly without the HRT and in the end, treatment.
More research should be done on this -here's the link -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17005762
-- Edited by Kellie on Monday 21st of October 2013 12:25:08 AM