active or nonactive hep c

[m13m]

how do you tell if your hep c is active or non active?

[flyinlynn]

If you do not treat and cure your hep c your liver very likely will continue to get worse with time.

If you do treat your hep c your liver will no longer be injured by the hep c virus and will have a chance to heal.

There is no current treatment for cirrhosis but you can at least hopefully stop your progression to liver failure.

I have Genotype 1a I have cirrhosis. I just completed 24 weeks with Harvoni and 15 weeks of ribavirin. I failed 3 interferon based treatments in the past. Harvoni was much easier to take than the 6 months of interferon I had done 3 times before.

I am hoping I will be cured of hep c this attempt to treat.

Get diagnosed, get treated, get cured

Good luck
Lynn

[Dee1956]

Hello, welcome.  There are people who have treated, gotten rid of the HCV and come back here to tell us that their liver damage has improved.

I did not know how sick I was until I was dx with HCV, then I found out I had cirrhosis.  There was no time to wait.  I treated 3 years ago with signs of cirrhosis.  My last sonogram a year ago said that my liver had improved, no sign of the rough echotexture seen in the past.  So...it took two years for my liver to improve.  Other people have come back and stated that their level of scarring and fibrosis had improved once the HCV was no longer attacking the liver and the rest of the body.

I have met people who had no symptoms until they started vomiting blood.  When it happens it will look like coffee grounds.  If you see that call 911 you only have minutes before you bleed out. I read that the liver can continue to function with 80% of it destroyed.  I did not want to wait to find out.
Good luck, Dee

[m13m]

They said the same thing to me about interfurion treatment. I am glad I did not take it. I do not feel sick enough to gamble on it. Maybe I will wait to see more data. I can always start, I can not stop if I start.  People use words like-- generally---hopefully--most likely---There  HARVONI insert says it is not proven to help cirrhosis.

[SurfsideGal]

I am sure you can find lots of information that claims SVR improves the fibrosis levels in many patients with cirrhosis. There is no reason to believe that SVR from the new treatments will not have the same benefit.

"“In general, once an SVR is contained, the liver disease progression completely stops,” says Sanjeev Arora, MD, a professor of internal medicine at the University of New Mexico Hospitals Center for Digestive Diseases."
http://www.hepmag.com/articles/Post_SVR_2502_24227.shtml

[CoWriter]

It will help it because hopefully it will stop it from progressing.  The reason you can't find any literature that says it helps cirrhosis is because the medication is new and they haven't done studies to see whether it helps cirrhosis long term.

But it makes sense that if you stop the disease it will be helpful to you.

Co

[m13m]

  This the second test I took the first one said 6.59 --6 months ago-  the new one went down to 6.29---and it does show  both numbers logs and international units--and I can not find in the info where it says it will help my cirrhosis.

[CoWriter]

A result of <12 INTERNATIONAL UNITS indicates that HCV is detected, but is not quantifiable.

But your result is 6.29 LOGS not international units.

As Jimmy said 6.29 logs is equal to 1,950,000 international units.

You can call the lab and tell them that international units is the standardized method used and you want your results in international units because your insurance is giving you trouble.

Co

[dontworry_behappy1]

http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/hcv/hepatitis/loadchart/

Call the Lab that did your test.  You do have Hepatitis C.  Ask for a written explanation if you can't get retested.   You might even be able to email the
lab.  I would.

[hrsepwrguy]

"A result of  HCV <12  Detected (12 IU/mL) indicates that HCV is detected, but is not quantifiable."

You are detectable, I would request a new viral load test, maybe they could quantify a new one.

Have a great day

[SurfsideGal]

Something is wrong here. If your viral load is Log 10, 6.29 you certainly do have hepatitis C and could benefit from treatment. Harvoni is one of the drugs specifically used for genotype 1a patients. Also, in cirrhotic patients who clear the virus and become undetected 12 weeks after treatment is finished, many of them will decrease the amount of scar tissue in their livers and will NOT be cirrhotic any more. They are considered cured.

[JimmyMose]

Reportable range for HCV RNA is 1.08 to 8.00 Log IU/ml ( 12-100,000,000, IU/mu).
A result of  HCV <12  Detected (12 IU/mL) indicates that HCV is detected, but is not quantifiable.

This information is just a description of the range of the test and that below 12 IU/mL HCV is detected but a specific exact number between `1 and 11 can't be determine

This is the result
Log10  6.29 = 1,950,000 IU/mL (approx)

[dontworry_behappy1]

You have a log of 6.29.   That's your viral load.  It's just stated in a different
measurement.    Your viral load is in the millions.   Much like many of the people who post here.  

[dontworry_behappy1]

Well once you have cirrhosis it's not likely cirrhosis will go away.  That is what they mean.  But I expect it can get worse and that's what you want to avoid.
People  live with cirrhosis.   You don't want liver failure.   You do want to treat your Hep C.  Gilead will help with getting you connected to treatment.  Sounds like that's what's happening.  

[m13m]

Also I am in touch with GILEAD -they said we have to get insurance company to change that I do need treatment.

[m13m]

THEY ALSO SAID --THAT IT SAYS ON GILEAD HARVONI  INSERT THAT HARVONI IS NOT PROVEN TO HELP CIRRHOSIS.  ?????

[m13m]

   Here is all of it.---  Reportable range for HCV RNA is 1.08 to 8.00 Log IU/ml ( 12-100,000,000, IU/mu). A result of  HCV <12  Detected (12 IU/mL) indicates that HCV is detected, but is not quantifiable.    HCV RNA VIRAL LOAD LOG  6.29

[dontworry_behappy1]

Harvoni is for Genotype 1a.  Also, used to treat those with cirrhosis.  If you
have genotype 1a with cirrhosis you need treatment.  After appeals are denied then the doctor can contact the drug company directly if you have insurance.

[dontworry_behappy1]

"how do tell if your hep c is active or non active?"

If you have a genotype then you have Hepatitis C.  If you don't have hepatitis
C then you wouldn't know your genotype.   Why don't you type exactly what
your test said.  That would be helpful in giving you a response.  

[m13m]

  then why say active hep c-not just hep c? I have hep c- type 1a - with cirrhosis-the test HCV RNA VIRAL LOAD  said a result of HCV <12 indicates that HCV is detected, but not quantifiable.  My viral lode said 6.5 --below the 12 IU/ml.  THE INSURANCE SAID THAT MEANS--I DO NOT NEED TREATMENT--also harvoni is not for my condition. They denied my appeal.

[SurfsideGal]

If you have antibodies to hep C, your next step is a viral load test. It is called HCV/RNA by PCR. If they find virus in that test, you have hepatitis C. If you have hep C it is always active.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

You don't. You ether have HCV or not.  Get tested. That's how you can find out if you have HCV.