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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Viral Load
Post Info TOPIC: Viral Load
nohcvforme


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RE: Viral Load
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I'm 1b also. If you can't wait, I think the new triple tx is good, since I am UND despite my genotype and high VL. For me the Incivek was much more unpleasant than the Interferon, but not sure that part can be avoided. The Interferon has been around a while so I feel like it's been observed and not totally new and scary, if you know what I mean.

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Mary Jane


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Bloomster.. best of luck to you and your hubby on Monday ..fingers crossed VL is down..

 Fall is on the way here in the US..

Stephanie flowerpot.gif



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Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.Ralph Waldo Emerson

1a - VL 22 million  F2- IL28B- CT / Inck-Riba- Peg triple therapy 9/15/12 UND 4/8/14  8 wks BT ..3/1/2013 done! 3wks Post UND
Bloomster


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Hubby has his 6 weeks doctor's appointment on Monday.  We will find out the results of the 4 week VL then.  I'm feeling optimistic. After a terrible week last week (his first week on Victrelis) he has sprung back, and although still fatigued with nausea, he is handling things well and is back at work. 

Yes Malcolm it's warming up in Sydney too.  I'm looking forward to more sunshine after a chilly winter.

 



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My husband had genotype 1a, 46yo, started triple therapy (peg/rib/vic) 23rd July 2012, VL prior to treatment 14 million, UNDET 12, 24 weeks, EOT 24th June 2013, EOT +1.5 weeks UNDET, EOT +12 weeks & EOT +27 weeks UNDET; SVR January 2014
jrc


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My VL was very high before tx also 21.2 million  i was able to clear within 4 weeks on SOC alone, it all depends on the persons response to the txsmile



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Geno 1 A Started Tx w/ Victrelis  8-3-11, Viral Load  21.2 Million,  Und Weeks 4 Through 28 ,End Of Tx 2-15-2012 !SVR
mallani


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Hi Caroline, Hope you are reassured about hubbies VL. Regarding the Interleukin 28b polymorphism- we have had this in Australia for 8 years and it is done at C.S.L. or Westmead Hospital. You may have had it done, as we seem to do it more often than in the U.S.A. It gives a prediction of Interferon sensitivity- if you have the CC allele, you have a 66% chance of Interferon sensitivity. If you are CT, that drops to 40%, and if TT, 30%. All this is fairly oldfashioned, particularly as hubby would have had the 4 week leadin with SOC before starting Victrelis. The drop in VL after the leadin gives a very accurate assessment of Inter. sensitivity. We are looking for a 2log drop in VL (remember VL 1million= VL 1log). Did you have a 4 week VL done? Cheers- getting warm in Queensland.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Bloomster


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Thanks for all the informative responses.  Regards, Caroline



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My husband had genotype 1a, 46yo, started triple therapy (peg/rib/vic) 23rd July 2012, VL prior to treatment 14 million, UNDET 12, 24 weeks, EOT 24th June 2013, EOT +1.5 weeks UNDET, EOT +12 weeks & EOT +27 weeks UNDET; SVR January 2014
52baddog


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HI NOHCVFORME

SO WHAT IS YOUR GENOTYPE? I AM IN THE SAME SITUATION STAGE 1 GENOTYPE 1B, BUT I AM NOT UNDER ANY TREATMENT YET. WAITING FOR THE TREATMENT WITHOUT INERFERON.

 



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Geno type 1b, F1 vl 640,000 enrolled in Gilead's sofosbuvir/ledipasvir -week 1 66, week 2 <25
nohcvforme


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My VL was the highest I remember hearing of on the forum- unmeasurable as it exceeded 69 million, and on triple tx (Incivek) I dropped to"2" at 4 weeks, then UND. Also seem to have minimal damage ( stage 1, grade 1 on biopsy). Who knows why, but I didn't want to wait and see what happened, so very thankful for treatment. I had my post treatment blood work 2 weeks ago and not TOO nervous, but I will be about the 6 month ones.

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news


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I agree with Malcolm (mallani). The viral load numbers at beginning of treatment do not seem to affect the numbers after four and eight weeks of antiprotease. The huge decreases in HCV quantity are very impressive, and tend to start you off with a bang. In countries where the antiprotease phase of treatment is not available for whatever reason, the pegasys and ribavirin tend to bring the VL numbers down much more slowly, but if the patient is responding to treatment they come down eventually. At this point it seems to me VL is an interesting statistic that must be brought down to zero as quickly as possible, but other than that it doesn't seem to affect treatment very much.

Alan



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Geno 1A  Started Pegasys/Ribavirin/Incivek Nov. 20, 2011 .  Completed July 28, 2012 (36 weeks). For a treatment history, see:  https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/xythoswfs/webview/_xy-9921874_1

SVR on January 14, 2013!!
mallani


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Hi Caroline, As you have noted, there is a huge range in VL among forum members. It was thought that a low VL (<1million) offered a better chance of SVR. I do not think that is necessarily correct. It is more the response to Rx. If the VL is undet. after 4 and 8 weeks of antiprotease, this is a RVR and offers a better chance of SVR.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Mary Jane


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Bloomster.....May I jump in please.. from what I learned Viral load can fluctuate, different labs as stated can yield different results, not sure why since it was all converted to international units some time ago..

Another interesting fact I learned along my jouneny ...  It only happens to WOMEN and they don't know why..but women can high viral loads and relatively little liver damage..for many years..

As Alan & Malcom said it depends on the drug therapies used to fight the dragon. In the research world the viurs is measured in " logs"  when you respond and your viral load drops so does the viral " logs" from what I read  and has been discussed it can be at the 4 week time frame when things start to change. These guys are dragon slayers and  can offer thier personal experiences..

I myself ...I'm in a holding pattern waiting for treatment... between the insurance  company and the pharmaceutical  folks someone is  supposed to be giving me a call, I have worked around this and I am constantly trying to educate myself. I have friends who have gone thru old school trx,  plus all the wonderful folks on here share their good advice and experiences I am counting on them, all the folks in this group when I start this journey.

Another new marker , a blood test they are using called  IL28B  this gives them and idea if  you will be a good responder.

Best of luck,

Stephanieflowerpot.gif

Hep C- 21 years...geno type 1a , VL 22 million Class II/ Stage II  IL28B marker  CT ? not sure doc said I had one gene on this lab result. 2 would be better. .. getting ready to start triple therapy in approx 2 weeks..

 



-- Edited by Mary Jane on Wednesday 29th of August 2012 01:01:23 AM

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Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.Ralph Waldo Emerson

1a - VL 22 million  F2- IL28B- CT / Inck-Riba- Peg triple therapy 9/15/12 UND 4/8/14  8 wks BT ..3/1/2013 done! 3wks Post UND
Bloomster


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Hi guys, whilst reading many of the posts I've noticed there is a great variation in people's viral load.  Prior to treatment, some have had viral loads of 1.5 million and then I've seen others will massive viral loads of 22 million.  My husband had 14+million prior to his treatment also.

My question is: does the starting point of the viral load have any effect on the treatment or make it any harder to shift?  Or is it just showing that the virus was hyper active prior to treatment?  Any feedback welcomed.

Caroline



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My husband had genotype 1a, 46yo, started triple therapy (peg/rib/vic) 23rd July 2012, VL prior to treatment 14 million, UNDET 12, 24 weeks, EOT 24th June 2013, EOT +1.5 weeks UNDET, EOT +12 weeks & EOT +27 weeks UNDET; SVR January 2014
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