Hep C Discussion Forum

CandaceV · Senior Member

RE: How is this even possible?!

mallani · Guru

Hi again Candace,

We had this discussion in January. 'Genotype 2, Undetectable' is rubbish. The Genotype test is a PCR test, and requires virus to be present.

Hubby has chronic HepC, Genotype 2 with a VL of nearly 5 million in January. If he wants treatment, he should get his liver assessed by biopsy or Fibroscan. Keep us posted.

CandaceV · Senior Member

Tig56 wrote:
After seeing that previous post, I remember talking about that with you. My memory isn't the best! As was mentioned before, it appears that the test result indicated nearly 5 million copies and the reference range is simply what indicates a negative test result. That doesn't say he has a undetected test result. It's a terrible way of listing it IMO, but that's how they did it. My impression is that he does indeed have a chronic infection with a moderately high viral load. My VL was also 5 million when I started Tx last year. I also took Milk Thistle after I failed Tx the first time in 96 and continued taking it for 17 years, faithfully. My AST/ALT were usually within normal limits but did fluctuate throughout my chronic phase. It's well known that some supplements will reduce your liver enzymes, but the question remains whether those results are actual levels or masked by the supplement. Some feel it's a waste of time but others feel differently. I believe I benefitted from it and let people make up their own minds where supplements are concerned. They should never be used to replace or avoid treatment by a qualified physician. Best for your husband to have his tests repeated by a specialist and go from there. Good luck...
Tig

Hi Tig, I completely agree, he has a chronic infection and as far as the genotype results go, we'll just have to wait to see what the doc says, but it appears he's a type 2, and the "undetected" on the results is merely the reference point.

As far as supplements, they did work on the dog, but he's not suffering from Hep C, he was poisoned. Irrelevant to my husband's situation. Thanks, I'll be back when I know more.

Tig · Admin

After seeing that previous post, I remember talking about that with you. My memory isn't the best! As was mentioned before, it appears that the test result indicated nearly 5 million copies and the reference range is simply what indicates a negative test result. That doesn't say he has a undetected test result. It's a terrible way of listing it IMO, but that's how they did it. My impression is that he does indeed have a chronic infection with a moderately high viral load. My VL was also 5 million when I started Tx last year. I also took Milk Thistle after I failed Tx the first time in 96 and continued taking it for 17 years, faithfully. My AST/ALT were usually within normal limits but did fluctuate throughout my chronic phase. It's well known that some supplements will reduce your liver enzymes, but the question remains whether those results are actual levels or masked by the supplement. Some feel it's a waste of time but others feel differently. I believe I benefitted from it and let people make up their own minds where supplements are concerned. They should never be used to replace or avoid treatment by a qualified physician. Best for your husband to have his tests repeated by a specialist and go from there. Good luck...

Tig

CandaceV · Senior Member

Hi Tig, here's the thread with the test results I typed from Mayo Clinic and the confusion:

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t56138087/test-results/

The only change between diagnosis 2 years ago and now is because he started taking milk thistle with dandelion - because our dog's ALT went down from 900 to 64 with 3 months of milk thistle and SAMe, and has been normal ever since. Our dog was poisoned when he ate 1/2 a bottle of Ibuprofen that our dog sitter dropped and couldn't find. The dog went through $1,500 of detox, but didn't improve until the milk thistle regimen for 3 months. His blood work is normal and he continues to be recovered. I consider it a miracle, as the vet said to go home and dig a hole. That was in 2012. It's over 2 years ago and the dog is fine.

My husband was infected when he was 19 and he's 60 now. He had no clue that he was infected, he must have been infected when a bunch of his friends were giving each other tattoos. Most of those friends have passed from liver disease. That's why he decided to be tested.

I'll be sure to update what the liver doctor says in 2 weeks. Thank you.

On edit, his ALT is 41, normal is 40. All other enzymes are normal. But, his ALT was 43 2 years ago, when they said he had a chronic infection.

-- Edited by CandaceV on Tuesday 9th of September 2014 07:22:54 PM

CandaceV · Senior Member

Thanks, Tim. I guess he'll have to wait until he talks to the liver doctor. He's 60 and was infected when he was 19. When he was finally tested 2 years ago, he started taking milk thistle with dandelion. Because...long story...one of our dogs was poisoned and had ALT's of over 900 until I started giving him milk thistle with SAMe for 3 months and his ALT went down to 64 and has stayed there for 2 years.

There was some confusion in the beginning, his PCP said the infection was in remission, but the results showed nearly 5 million copies, the PCP said she didn't know how to interpret the results. My husband refused to see a liver doctor until he was on Medicare due to the costs, so his first appointment is in 2 weeks.

Tig · Admin

Hi Candace,

From your description, your husband must have previously been diagnosed with an active HCV genotype 2 chronic infection, with a viral count of 5 million copies. Now he goes back for continuing care and the test shows an undetectable result. If that test was a quantitative viral load test and came back UND, it's possible that he has cleared the virus on his own. I don't remember this happening to someone after they reached the chronic phase of infection, but things happen. Without further information and test results, this is just a guess on my part. (Do you have any other test results available?) I certainly hope that he has been fortunate enough to have cleared on his own. Let us know when you hear! Good luck!

Tig

hrsetrdr · Guru

Hi Candace,

Without having any specific medical knowledge personally, nor being privy to the details of your husband's labs I suspect that:

A. The original labs were incorrect or,
B. Although rare, your husband may have 'spontaneously' remitted the HCV with the bodies own defenses.

Hopefully someone else may have additional information for you. Best wishes, Tim

CandaceV · Senior Member

My husband was diagnosed with Hep C several years ago. At that point, he had 5 million copies. He refused to see a liver doctor or even discuss treatment until he was eligible for Medicare because of the cost of treatment. In the meantime, he took milk thistle every day.

He got Medicare on August 1st, so he asked for a referral to a liver doctor, who asked for a genotype test. The results are genotype 2, undetectable. I called both his PCP and his liver doctor and neither will commit to explaining exactly what it means until his appointments next month.

Can anyone here shed some light on this? Neither doctor can see him for a month and he doesn't want to wait that long to find out the meaning of the results. Anyone know what it means? Thanks so much.

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