Triple Therapy: Apparent Complete Failure

[AHNOLD]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this board but I've followed it for the past few weeks.

I'm a 29 year-old male and I was diagnosed with Hep C (genotype 1a) in November 2010 after a routine blood test. I, for the life of me, have no idea how I got it. The most likely candidate is that I got it just after birth in 1981 (I was a blue baby and needed some blood transfusions).

Anyway, I got a biopsy done this past January and the results were good: Stage 1 Fibrosis, no red flags.

I started triple therapy with Incivek, Ribavirin, and Pegasys around mid-September. Other than the first night of my shot, I have had basically zero side-effects. I still lift heavily, row, go to work, travel almost weekly,etc... Weekly blood tests hardly registered any changes in my hemoglobin levels, platelet levels, etc... However, the 4-week results were surprising, to say the least.

My viral load count went from 840,000 before to 620,000 after 4-weeks of strict treatment. Obviously treatment has failed and I'm curious to see if anyone here has received similiar results. I know data is limited on this, but does anyone know (either through personal experience or anecdotally) how I could be such a significant non-responder? Are there any indicators that could explain this?

I'm very active and I have a large appetite so I've had no problem eating the gobs of fat necessary to consume Incivek and, to a degree, Ribavirin. My diet is pretty good. I avoid fast food, I don't eat out often, I eat organic when I can, and I consume plenty of protein and water (a gallon+ a day) given my active, gym-going lifesyle.

I'm going to see the doctor on Tuesday to get answers to my questions and map out a plan. But I just want to see what I could glean from this community. Thanks!

-J

[James10500]

I'll just chime in by repeating what the others have said. Very sorry it didn't work, but there is a big upside, you have time and the new drugs are looking very good. Hang in there, and forget about it for a few years.

[flcyclist]

The good news is you have time on your side since you're stage 1, at a young age and sound in very good shape.  I think Susan's suggestion to get a IL28B test is a good idea and might give some insight to why trt failed.  You might want to discuss looking into trials with your doctor.  Hope you have better luck the next round.

[susan400]

I'm so very sorry to hear this.  I know it's difficult to hear.  I've been a non-responder (null responder) to numerous treatments.  On the bright side of things, you have very little damage, which is good news.  And also, there are some new drugs that are in clinical trials (Polymerase Inhibitors) that have had some promising results.  I've been told by my doctor (who is a leading researcher in Hep C) that when you fail on a Protease Inhibitor that it is not recommended to retreat with another Protease Inhibit.  I was disappointed when I heard that because I had been exposed to Incivek (Telaprevir) in an earlier trial and I did not clear.  My plan had been to retreat with the Boceprevir (Victrelis)+SOC, but my doctor has strongly advised me to NOT do this.  He says it is too risky to set myself up for a huge resistance issue.  He is recommending that I wait until the Pharmasset drugs allowed Protease Inhib.failure patients into their trials and he wants me to wait for it to be a NON-placebo as well.   If your insurance will cover it, you could look into getting an IL28B test to determine if you have a hard to treat type of HCV, a TT allele.   Susan400

[crossroadsec]

I'm sry for you... But agree there are other options. You're in a great position physically to eat a liver loving diet and be ready when they get approved. I'd love to be back when there was minimal damage to my liver.. Keep ur chin up and know the medical community- and this forum are here for you. Karen :)

[willbb]

Sorry to hear this,certainly a tough break. The future looks bright with all that is happening in research.There are many of us waiting after a not so stellar attempt on the first try. Your time will come again.....
Best...
Will

[pooh55811]

I am very sorry to hear about your results. Hopefully some of the newer drugs now being tested will clear you in the future.