Hi again, John, yes it is interesting and of course that applies to everyone who achieves SVR after a course of treatment, not only people who clear the virus spontaneously.  `Sustained Virologic Response` is what we consider as the equivalent of being `cured` but it doesn`t mean that we don`t have any virus left in our bodies, only that it can no longer be detected, and any virus that is still present is being kept under control by our immune systems.

We have no idea what battles are being fought and won on a daily basis within our bodies!

Interesting change of topic, and some scary scenarios there!

Thanks Tig, so the IL28B genotype is the key factor.

Cinnimon Girl,

This was very interesting,

A recent study using ultra-sensitive tests was carried on a group of people who all had spontaneously cleared the virus and maintained an undetectable HCV viral load in the blood with no clinical signs of hepatitis. The tests revealed the presence of HCV RNA in all participants of the study group. The majority also showed signs of active reproduction by the virus. HCV RNA was found in serum (the liquid part of blood without the clotting factors), dendritic cells (specialist cells of the immune system) and in some white blood cells where there were also signs of viral replication. The study is too limited to be conclusive, but it does challenge assumptions that a resolved infection means that HCV has been completely removed from the body.

In conclusion, the human body evolves getting DNA to fight all diseases that just like in the latest movie of "War of the Worlds" all the aliens died because their immune system couldn't fight the common cold!

The future hopefully we can choose genotypes for protection from current viruses and/or vaccines.  But as we all know they mutate, and can only help of what we know of now sadly.  Currently on the news is the MARS from camels, and HZ9N from chickens or birds are very deadly, along with HIV (from monkeys) of course.  Whats next dogs and cats? we would be whipped out.  This is the future of WMD scarlingly.  sorry for going off topic  (I changed the topic a little)

Hi John, that`s a very good question and I`ve also read about the IL28B gene that Tig mentioned as being a possible reason.  Here`s some more information I came across about the acute stage and the factors which can contribute to spontaneous viral clearance, from the Hep C Trust website...

http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/Hepatitis_C_Info/Stages+of+Hepatitis+C/The+acute+phase

At the end of the day you`ll never really know exactly why it happened but in your position I`d be wondering about it too.

Hi John,

I was just researching another topic and came across this information/webpage that applies to your question. I thought I'd add it to this thread, hoping it will help to explain why some people 20-30% actually beat the disease spontaneously during the acute phase of the infection. I'm sure there are additional reasons why, but this is an valid possibility that has to be included. The entire article is worth a read.

Tig

"There are three IL28B subtypes (called genotypes): CC, CT, and TT. People with the CC genotype have a stronger immune response to HCV infection than people with the CT or TT genotypes (called non-CC genotypes). This immune response makes people who have a CC genotype more likely to clear HCV without treatment (called spontaneous viral clearance), within months of becoming infected. People who have a CC genotype are also two to three times more likely to be cured by PEG-IFN and RBV, regardless of race or HIV status.

TT - Poorest response to Hepatitis C treatment. 

CC - Best response to Hepatitis C treatment. 

CT - Somewhere in between TT and CC alleles. "

http://hepatitiscnewdrugresearch.com/what-is-the-il28b-gene.html

Thank you for your reply.

I am trying to find out how 25% people can cure it on their own and others cannot.  If so why doesn't that turn into a vaccine.  Just curious of all sciences!

April came out with this for possible vaccines

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s3971278.htm

"Cure" rates, but unless you are SVR you really don't know if its ever going to come back, not sure if a cure is a good word, but 90% on average(with all the genotypes averaged, and mutations)    I know Sofosbuvir with Ledipasvir in one pill claims 100% on type 1, 1a, 1b  which could be out in October?


As much as I love creating software, even "anti virus" software, real "anti virus" research biological wise deserve our great fullness

Hi again, John, and thanks for sharing your results.

The HCV RNA test results show quite clearly that the virus is undetected so it looks as though your doctor is right in saying that you cleared the virus on your own, and that was almost certainly during the first six months (the acute stage).  And by the way < 1.8 log is the same as < 15, it`s just a different way of expressing the same number, and means that the test used isn`t able to quantify an amount `less than` 15 iu/ml.

The third test, your genotype sampling, could not get a reading because there wasn`t any detectable viral load to test.

The fourth test show that you tested positive for Hep C antibodies, which is what you`d expect to see.

I would say it was extremely unlikely that the virus would ever come back as you obviously have a strong and active immune system to have cleared it in the first place, so I really don`t think you have any need to worry.  Of course you could still become re-infected if you engaged in any activity which included `blood to blood` contact with someone else who was infected, as the HCV antibodies don`t give us any immunity against re-infection.  You will also need to avoid donating blood in the future as it won`t be accepted with the antibodies present. 

Your liver enzymes are within range, and there could be many reasons why you have lost weight and have digestive system issues and that`s something you probably need to discuss with your gatroenterologist.

Just look after yourself and move on, is my advice, and I hope your doctor can help you with your other health problems.

Wishing you all the best, and be thankful you don`t have the virus! 

The Doctor orally told me " I was one of the lucky ones who had it and cured it myself"  I lost 20lbs, my wedding ring doesn't fit tight and is loose, and have digestional issues (the doctor is a gastroenterologist)   

 Could it come back in the future as it lays dormant and defeated?

Here are the results:

 HepC V. RNA QA PCR (Quest)

1) HCV RNA, QA, PCR    < 1.18 not detected log IU/ML

"Please note: the guidelines for the use of new anit-hcv therapies(doceprevier and telaprevir) recommend using a test method that detects plasma viral nucleic acid levels as low as 10 IU/ML.  This assay has a limit of detection of 10-13 IU/ML and conforms to the recommendation.  Quantitation of plasma HCV nucleic acid levels below 15 IU/ML (The lower limit of quanititation for this test) may not be linear, and is the circumstance are reported as "<15 IU/ML HCV RNA Detected"

This test was performed using the cobas(R) Ampliprep/Cobas(r) taqman HCV Test v2.0

2) HCV RNA IU/ML      <15 NOT DETECTED IU/ML  <15

3) HCV RNA GENOTYPE, LIPA

Pending.....

we were unable to obtain a genotype from this sample.  the most common reason for failure to genotype are insufficient viroal load, mutations and the viral genome at the assay priming sites, and presence of inhibitory substand in the sample  a minimum viral load of 300 IU.ML is required for testing.  to order the il28b test please submit a new whole blood same for test if this is a test for remission.  the method used in this test is RT-PCR and reverse hybridization (line probe) of the 5' UTR and core region of the HCV genotype

4) Hepatitis C AB
1Hep C Ab        A Reactive

5) Tissue Transgutaminiase
1 U/ML       <4  Antibody not detected

6) Gliadin Ab Panel

IGG
2 Units        < 20 anitobyd not detected

IGA
6 Units             < 20 anitobdy not detected



Note: in my blood I have no BASO# and they say im subclinical hypthyrodism and take levothyroxine 25MCG

ALBUIM 4.62

Protein 8.0 (I caught the flu)

1DBil 0.1

BASO# 0.00 THOUS/MCL

RBC 7.75 millions/MCL

----------------------------------

(hepatic function)

1Non HDC Chol-Cal 178 mg/dl

!ALB 4.7 g/dl      3.4-5.0

1TPROT 8.3      6.4-8.2

alkphosi 59 U/L    45-117

alt  25 U/L    12-78

ast   20 U/L    15-37
ADbil  0.1    "Range Below"

TBili  0.3 mg/dl    0.2-1.0

----metabolic----

my  2cGFR is low at 90 should be 107  chart shows im 55 years old

chol 220
trig 295

P.S.  last time I could have possible caught HepC was in 2011 summer

-- Edited by JohnHarold on Monday 12th of May 2014 03:48:49 PM