8 years after transplant- Hep C is back- Should I do treatment?

[56Mike]

My dear son shared his liver with me 8 years ago... I was dx with Hep C, in 2004 tried the PegIntron and Ribaviron and only lasted 3 doses- my Dr said I had to quit treatment as my counts were too low. I rapidly deteriorated and became a walking encephalopathic corpse and  would have most likely died waiting for a cadever liver. Interestingly before transplant in May of that year- the Hep was no longer detected. I just had a biopsy- that came back 2/2- they had been undetectable all these years. My liver labs are pristine. I am afraid to start these meds again because of what happened the first time. My genotype is 2- but it looks like at best- hope for remission is 30%? Any thoughts or suggestions please?

[babs824]

mike; u have come to the best place for questions as hector and orphan/hawk are highly knowledgable in this area. please keep asking questions here. my situation was so different except for genotype that i have no other comments except to wish u all the best and again to reassure u that this is a great site, best to u, babs824

[nygirl7]

Back in 2003 the sensitivity of the tests was no where near where it is now. I am sure that perhaps it read undetectible but in fact was just lowered due to the IFN and RBV. But it would appear to me that you were responding........did at that time they try any rescue meds on you? Do you know what numbers were so low? These days they have meds that might be able to help you succeed on treatment. Without Epogen I would not have made it my hemo dropped so rapidly and so hard. With Epo I was able to continue.

[orphanedhawk]

I'm not Hector but the new orals are currently in trial stage. Not available except in a trial.

[frijole]

There is a lot that I am unclear about too. Normally a new liver does not make you clear of Hepatitis C as it is still in your bloodstream, and will continue to inflame the new liver as it has the old liver. However, if I am reading your post correctly your viral load was undetectable before you had the liver transplant.    Does that mean you had acute Hepatitis C and your body cleared it?   In any event it probably is, dependent upon what your transplant center says, to treat this reoccurance or new occurance of Hepatitis C.  

As Hector mentioned, it might be easier on your system this time since you are not cirrhotic. And, 33% is better than ).

Best of luck
frijole

[orphanedhawk]

Obviously I can't speak for the poster but I think he meant there was no problem until recently.

According to my hepatologist he's had post-transplant patients who for some reason, have more resistant livers post transplant although that is not the norm.
It does not mean the virus is gone because as you know, it lives in the blood.

[Drew2u]

Hey there
Wanted to know a few things from the people who have gone thro treatment , I'm duel diagnosed HIV and Hcv and have been for 27 and 20 years respectively .my fibroscan showed a measure of 30.3 which im told is cirrhosis  stage 4 ...am I right ? Have been told I need to get on the new triple combo which I finally got the courage to do and am waiting to start ,,is there anything that you guys know that I shouldmreallynwatch out for , barring the depression and rash and so forth . I considered compensated liver wise and my levels are pretty good , but I know it could change with having HIV and only a T.cell count of 200 . Many thanks  Andrew