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Week 4.........results
Just got home from the doctor. She went over my test results and said I am doing well on treatment. YAAY! She also said I had a 2 log drop on treatment with the first 2 drugs (Interferon & Ribavirin), and now, with the 3rd drug (VIC), the hope is that I will do even better in 4 more weeks.
In this 4 weeks, my Viral Load went from: 10million 700thousand, to only 329thousand!!
Thanks to my BFF (who recommended I take iron), my Hemoglobin (although it's low) has not had a major drop in 4 weeks! We are still keeping an eye on it to gage for anemia, at which point, I go talk to the doc about possible dose reduction and/or rescue drugs. I go back to the doc for the 8 week test results, on Halloween (I think). Maybe I will go in costume as one of the Angry Birds. Then I can do quite the dance when they give me more good news :) My best to EVERYONE on this journey. Your comments, advice and suggestions really do matter and have helped me greatly. Blessings to you and yours......
In this 4 weeks, my Viral Load went from: 10million 700thousand, to only 329thousand!!
Thanks to my BFF (who recommended I take iron), my Hemoglobin (although it's low) has not had a major drop in 4 weeks! We are still keeping an eye on it to gage for anemia, at which point, I go talk to the doc about possible dose reduction and/or rescue drugs. I go back to the doc for the 8 week test results, on Halloween (I think). Maybe I will go in costume as one of the Angry Birds. Then I can do quite the dance when they give me more good news :) My best to EVERYONE on this journey. Your comments, advice and suggestions really do matter and have helped me greatly. Blessings to you and yours......
Best Answer
I was told not to take iron and did have hemolytic anemia. Deb - is there a distinction - the virus NEEDS iron to replicate or it CAUSES it - or are they one in the same???? Just curious.
You do realize that iron is an essential for the virus to replicate = we are specifically told NOT to take iron, (or vitamin A or K) on treatment unless it is called for by the doctor. This could in fact be one of the reasons you did not clear by week 4. Taking iron will not prevent hemolytic anemia.
Great news Bee!! Keep on keepin on!!
I want to mention that with Boc, it is ideal to reach a lower HGB level to achieve SVR. As you will read below, those that reached HGB < 10 had a much higher rate of SVR than those that did not. This is only true of the Boceprevir. Be careful trying to fight what is actually good for you.
Good luck!!!!
"In the case of boceprevir, less than 2% of patients discontinued therapy because of anemia. However, anemia was a significant factor in predicting SVR in Phase III trials of patients taking boceprevir. In the SPRINT-2 (Serine Protease Inhibitor Therapy 2) trial, 72% of patients with hemoglobin below 10 dL/g attained SVR compared with 58% of patients without anemia (Sulkowski MS et al. Presented at the 46th annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. Abstract 476)."
In patients taking boceprevir, anemia can be managed most often by reducing ribavirin and, at times, with the addition of erythropoietin, said Dr. Pockros. “Successful management of rash and anemia will allow high SVR rates,” he observed.
I want to mention that with Boc, it is ideal to reach a lower HGB level to achieve SVR. As you will read below, those that reached HGB < 10 had a much higher rate of SVR than those that did not. This is only true of the Boceprevir. Be careful trying to fight what is actually good for you.
Good luck!!!!
"In the case of boceprevir, less than 2% of patients discontinued therapy because of anemia. However, anemia was a significant factor in predicting SVR in Phase III trials of patients taking boceprevir. In the SPRINT-2 (Serine Protease Inhibitor Therapy 2) trial, 72% of patients with hemoglobin below 10 dL/g attained SVR compared with 58% of patients without anemia (Sulkowski MS et al. Presented at the 46th annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. Abstract 476)."
In patients taking boceprevir, anemia can be managed most often by reducing ribavirin and, at times, with the addition of erythropoietin, said Dr. Pockros. “Successful management of rash and anemia will allow high SVR rates,” he observed.
Had just posted this in friljoles thread.
"Nonetheless, the highest SVR rates were found in patients treated with a boceprevir-based regimen who experienced a ≥ 1 log decline in HCV RNA after the lead-in phase,"
This can be found under........
Predictors of Response and Early Viral Kinetics in Patients With HCV
http://www.clinicaloptions.com/Hepatitis/Treatment%20Updates/HCV%20New%20Agents/Module/Practical_Guide/Pages/Page%203.aspx
"Nonetheless, the highest SVR rates were found in patients treated with a boceprevir-based regimen who experienced a ≥ 1 log decline in HCV RNA after the lead-in phase,"
This can be found under........
Predictors of Response and Early Viral Kinetics in Patients With HCV
http://www.clinicaloptions.com/Hepatitis/Treatment%20Updates/HCV%20New%20Agents/Module/Practical_Guide/Pages/Page%203.aspx
great news!
Congratulations, keep going and you'll be SVR soon!!!
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Is that 10700000 to 329000? can-do-man is right on when he says you only need a 1 log drop"Nonetheless, the highest SVR rates were found in patients treated with a boceprevir-based regimen who experienced a ≥ 1 log decline in HCV RNA after the lead-in phase," and according to the Log Drop Calculator you have a 1.5 log which is great, hoping you go on to UND. Take care
Charlie
http://hcvsupport.org/log-drop_calculator.html