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Hep C Discussion Forum -> Hep C News -> January 2014 HCV Advocate Newletter
Post Info TOPIC: January 2014 HCV Advocate Newletter
suziq


Senior Member

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RE: January 2014 HCV Advocate Newletter
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Hi Mallani,

I remember your telling me that you were glad I got the trial with ribavirin.  Ran across some thing yesterday--copied and pasted it and now I can't find the whole article.  However, I will post what I copied.  It is not out of context.  I found it interesting.

" Larger studies have been conducted in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Poynard et al (21) examined liver biopsy specimens taken before and after therapy from 153 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis treated with different pegylated IFN and ribavirin regimens. Using the METAVIR scoring system, they found that the extent of liver fibrosis had improved in 75 (49%) patients: from stage 4 to stage 3 in 23 patients, to stage 2 in 26 patients, to stage 1 in 23 patients, and to a virtually normal histological appearance in 3 patients. No such improvements were recorded in the control group of patients treated with IFN monotherapy. Reversal of cirrhosis was more common among younger patients."

Looks like ribavirin is important in liver healing.  Wish I could find the article again to get dates, etc.  Don't know how this affects liver healing with the new meds.

Thanks for the info on what tests to look at after treatment.  I'm sure my cirrhosis was in early stage as I had few side effects from Hep C over the years--or at least none that I noticed.  My labs just started to change during the last year before treatment. 

SuziQ



__________________

Geno 1A  Age 82 Treatment naive Cirrhotic Told I had liver disease in 1966. Diagnosed as Hep C 1999.Started Merck clinical trial with Riba on 9/9/2013 Week 1 and 2 <25  Weeks 4, 8, 12,16,18 UND.  EOT Jan 14,2014  EOT +12 UND   JULY 1 2014 EOT+24= SVR
mallani


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Hi SuziQ,

Whether fibrosis reverses or not is not all that important. My doc has been using some of the many new 'anti-fibrotics' on and off for the last 10 years. Up to now, he has not noticed any to be effective.

HCC is the biggest worry and this is why 6 monthly imaging and AFP levels are required. He told me that I no longer need yearly gastroscopies for varices, as he has never seen them develop after SVR.  As long as my platelets, albumin, prothrombin time and bilirubin remain normal, I'm a happy chappie.

I haven't bothered with a followup Fibroscan, as it doesn't matter much in the scheme of things. Cheers.



__________________

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
suziq


Senior Member

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Posts: 327
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Thanks Jill,

I missed reading Ave of the Scars when I got my newsletter.  I suspected, but was not sure, that damage could continue or not reverse after treatment in some.  Since I have cirrhosis, am old and had the disease about 47 or more years, I had planned to go back to my supplements after treatment.  There are a couple of protocols that I do not consider "snake oil".  This helps with my decision to use supplements again after treatment. 

There are anti-fibrotics in early testing, but, for the present, are only for people with fatty liver disease. My coordinator and I had a discussion about anti- fibrotics a couple of months ago. Let's hope they work and become available in a few years to everyone.

 In the US, Fibroscan is not yet readily available.  Doctors still use Fibrosure and biopsy so checking for damage could be expensive. 

SuziQ

 



__________________

Geno 1A  Age 82 Treatment naive Cirrhotic Told I had liver disease in 1966. Diagnosed as Hep C 1999.Started Merck clinical trial with Riba on 9/9/2013 Week 1 and 2 <25  Weeks 4, 8, 12,16,18 UND.  EOT Jan 14,2014  EOT +12 UND   JULY 1 2014 EOT+24= SVR
Zlikster


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cheers Jill!

GT7? family is getting bigger :)

wow, not a single company working on new DAAs for GT3s anymore? ;(



__________________

GT 3 dg. 08-2012 / FibroScan: 5 kPa F1 / FibroTest: F0-1 A1 / SoC TX: PegInt 120mcg+Riba 1000mg UND from w8 relapse EOT+4w
01-2016 Sof+Dac+Riba UND from w8, SVR24!
Cinnamon Girl


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I didn`t enjoy that bit much either, Malcolm!  I didn`t have a biopsy but I suspect that after having the virus for over 40 years before I did my tx, I must have had some degree of fibrosis.  To quote from the article..."In CHC pts who had previously developed significant fibrosis, viral cure was not associated with fibrosis regression in 46 % of cases, 10 years later." 

So let`s hope we`re all in the lucky 54%! 

Thanks. 



__________________

Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
mallani


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Thanks Jill. I did not enjoy the 'Avenue of the scars' bit. Cheers.



__________________

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
Cinnamon Girl


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Posts: 5629
Date:
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January 2014 HCV Advocate Newletter...

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2014/advocate0114.html



__________________

Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
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