biopsy results

[vwoman]

Hi all
we just got the biopsy results on my husband c hronic hepatitus with features due ot hepatits c virus, grade 2:stage 4 what is that supposed to mean, will he be eligable for interferon or a transplant?

[justme53]

My biopsy last fall showed me at Grade 3 Stage 4, cirrhosis but well compensated. I started treatment on Jan 2nd. Cirrhosis presents its own set of challenges for treatment, but an aggressive doctor will check out all options for your husband. That may include further blood tests for kidney function, clotting factors, AFP (alpha fetoprotein) just to name a few. They may also request an MRI and endoscopy as part of the process. Many of these tests will help to determine whether your husband's cirrhosis is compensated or decompensated and if treatment with interferon and ribavirin is an option.

Keep reading and gathering information as you forge ahead and best of luck to both of you.......Pam

[nygirl7]

Please make sure you continue to follow up on his medication condition....it needs to be taken seriously and most of us who do find out we have hep our first reaction is to want to ignore it - but he is past that point.

Good luck.

[mikesimon]

Stage 4 generally indicates cirrhosis of the liver.
The grade represents inflammation and a grade 2 would be considered mild I believe.
Treatment with interferon and ribavirin can be done in the setting of cirrhosis but it depends a lot on the health of the patient and what his blood work looks like.
Whether he is eligible for a liver transplant would depend on his MELD Score which is a number derived from a formula which consists of 1) Blood creatinine level 2) INR (international ratio which is basically his clotting or prothrombin time and 3) his bilirubin.
At some transplant centers you can not be listed with a MELD Score less than 15 but that varies from center to center.

You can find a calculator for MELD Score at:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/meld/mayomodel5.html

Mike