Failed triple tx with Incivek

[Advocate1955]

My husband failed triple tx with Incivek and is stopping treatment today (4/11/12).

He is:
age 59, Hispanic, G1a, has probably had Hep C for 30+ years
diagnosed in 2007
f1/f2 per liver biopsy in 2007
partial responder to first therapy (SOC in 2007) - had < 2 log drop
f4 per liver biopsy in 2010
partial responder to Consensus Interferon-daily Infergen injections/1400 mg Riba) in 2010, had < 2 log drop
started triple tx with Inc on 9/30/12:  VL's were: week 4 = 78, week 8 = UND, week 12 = UND, week 16-ish = DET<12, week 20-ish = DET<12, week 24-ish = DET 22
All VL tests were done with the Abbott Real Time PCR Assay (Limit of Detection (LOD) 12 IU/mL, Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) 12 IU/mL

Advocate1955

[crigger]

Oh, I am so sorry.  I know this is hard news to take. You both have work so hard to get him better.   Praying for you both.

[working dog]

this is such sad news...i guess the good news is the treatments coming up look real good....billy

[Idyllic]

I am so sorry to hear this. If I read your dates right your husband has been treating a little over six months! And to think he was even UND for a while there. I had not realized he had treated so often. That certainly explains your level of expertise. I wish I knew what to say. I can imagine how incredibly devastating this must be. I hope an pray different and varied treatment options continue to present themselves and that some how, some way your husband clears the virus as well. Stay strong♫ Sorry if that sounds lame since I truly mean it in a heartfelt way.

[jules2551]

Geez I am so sorry to hear this!  You two have put up such a fight.  Wishing you both the best

Jules

[indy531]

I am sorry to hear that you and your DH's valiant efforts in his latest tx were unsuccessful. I hope that the time he was on this tx his liver was given a rest.

[libzo2]

He fought very hard.  It seems by the info you were generous to share shows while he was on Incivek, his viral load was oppressed.  Once the incivek period was over, his vl returned very slowly.  Damn.  So close.  This is maddening.  I am so sorry for this turnout.  What is next?  Please don't loose hope.  The valiant efforts you and your hubby have taken has helped his liver more than not.  

I pray for a miracle to manifest.  Your love is the best medicine now matter what.  Via con Dios    

[Sentinel13]

Hi Advocate: It is so saddening to hear this news. I always read your forum comments with great interest. Clearly, you are your husband's biggest supporter. Very Respectfully, GB

[his3707]

To you and your husband,  I am devastated for you as I read your news.  Praying for you both.    
Keep fighting!
Husband, with a wife like you have, Im sure you will continue to do just that until you get your cure!

[TexSunflwr]

I'm so sorry to hear this news about your husband. Like him, I am genotype 1a and have failed previous treatments, so I feel some kinship to his case, and some fear for myself. Hopefully there are some more very promising treatments on the horizon. My thoughts are with you both.

[lapis]

Oh my goodness, I am so very sorry to hear this.  You have been such a strong presence on the forum throughout this tx, sharing your knowledge and wisdom and experience with so many others, and it just does not seem fair that this tx has failed for your husband.  Not that there is anything "fair" about having a disease like Hep C.  The two of you really rocked the tx, you were so on top of everything along the way, and it just should have worked for you.  I'm so sorry the virus came back.  There's a lot of research being done now, I hope that the right cure will come along soon for your husband, and you will win this war against the virus.   You have my respect and compassion.

Lapis

[flcyclist]

So very sorry to hear this news.  I hope you have some options to consider such as an oral trial in the near future.  You've been a great addition to the forum, so hope you keep posting and keep us updated on your husband's next step.  I admire your willingness to keep fighting.  Best of luck to both of you.  

[brianmo]

What can I say. You know how I feel about this due to our notes back and forth.  Hang in there and if your ever in this direction we have an apt. on our home you can stay in, its a great get away.

Hug to you.    Mo

[JasmineT]

This treatment is so tough.  The disappointment must be terrible.  I am so sorry to hear the news.  New treatments are so promising.  Hopefully he can recover for a while and new better options will become available quickly.  Prayers are with you both.

[milliehepc]

....  lost for words other than I wish you the best for him in the next several months.  I hope that the treatment has done him good.  With all the treatments I wonder if the liver gets better anyway even if the svr is not reached. My most sincere best wishes to you both.
millie

[LookingForward12]

I am so very sorry to hear this news. You both must be devastated. My heart goes out to you both.

[HectorSF]

I am very sorry to hear that your husband had a breakthrough during his treatment after being undetectable. That has got to be really disappointing and frustrating. Obviously your husband has been a real warrior having treated three times.

I see that he is under the care of a doctor at a transplant center. The doctor there will monitor his condition and help him to maintain his health for as long as possible. (Compensated). His doctor is also likely to be aware of the newest treatments and may have a trial he can join at some point. Since his breakthrough was due to a poor response to interferon he would be an ideal candidate for the new non-interferon treatments that are now being studied. The good news is that as long as your husband stays compensated, he should to able to try new treatments to clear his hepatitis C.

Best of luck to you both!
Hang in there!

Hector

[stormy456]

I'm at a loss... I'm so sorry for you both.

[crossroadsec]

Oh hunnyo. So sad to hear this news.  I'm tucking in w both of you in my heart. Please take care of you. I didn't see this earlier when I posted u. I know ur heart is heavy, but I know my dr already discussed other tx options w me. Any hope of that? Xoxoxo Karen :(

[crossroadsec]

Oh hunnyo. So sad to hear this news.  I'm tucking in w both of you in my heart. Please take care of you. I didn't see this earlier when I posted u. I know ur heart is heavy, but I know my dr already discussed other tx options w me. Any hope of that? Xoxoxo Karen :(

[Advocate1955]

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and words of support.  It isn't the news we were hoping for, but we were more or less prepared for this news when we saw his VL go from UND to DET < 12 at week 16 (wrong direction).  We were still hopeful and hung in there.  His liver is well compensated, so far as we know, so we're thankful for that.  We check clinicaltrials.gov frequently, but so far we haven't seen a trial that he would be eligible for and that has the potential to have a good outcome for him.  We'll keep checking.  I believe his hepatologist, Dr. Renuka Bhattacharya, at the University of Washington Medical Services and Transplant Center, will continue to monitor him every 6 months as she did in between the previous two treatments.  We're not aware of any other treatment options currently available for him, but we will definitely ask her to notify us of any trials she learns of that she thinks would be a good match for him.  I know that he will keep treating whenever the opportunity arises and she recommends it, because he's a fighter!  We will keep moving forward.
Thank you again for so many positive thoughts!
Advocate1955

[FaithforHealing]

This news is heartbreaking to hear and I am still trying to wrap my head around what you and your husband have endured and I can only say how deeply sorry I am. Please know you and your husband are an inspiring testimony to the perseverance and resilience of the human spirit. Being new and hearing these outcomes helps to prepare us all for what may come, and to know we are not alone (or done) in the possible disappointments. You are teaching everyone how to keep fighting the fight and we get so much strength from you to regroup and keep going.

I just told someone today that my tx trial team seems so extremely"up" and excited lately about tx.....smiling a lot...almost like they know some great new tx info is about to be released. I believe good news is on the horizon and there is every reason to remain hopeful. God bless you both.  

[Dee1956]

I just read, I am so very very sorry. You guys have fought so hard to kill this virus, it breaks my heart to see that he is dectable.
I am at a loss for words here, I am in shock. I thought he was doing so well
Hope and a prayer
Dee

[ninezero8]

I read your notes back and forth with Stormy yesterday and had to read them several times to be sure that I was understanding. Unfortunately, I did read it right and my heart goes out to both of you. I will be starting triple next week and have taken so much from this forum in the past couple weeks. Reading this just....is beyond words. I truly wish you both the best and we all hope that something is developed that will work to kill this thing under any circumstances. My families thoughts go out to you both.

[Gerbils]

I too am sorry about this turn of events. It is just another reminder that we are all a little bit different in some ways that we cannot see. I wish Incivek had been the answer for your husband. You two are fighters and I hope and pray that he is successful in his next battle with the dragon. Hopefully the next treatment effort will be gentler than the last go around (and will work for good!). My heart goes out to you both. You both have an awesome attitude and are such an inspiration to us all. Please keep us posted.
G