Unfortunately, it would not be unusual if your Hepatitis returned after your treatment ended. The cure rates for people with genotype 1b who undergo 48 weeks of treatment are roughly 50%. (There are many other factors that can move than number up or down.) As you said, you should definitely get a new viral load test to see if the virus has returned.
If the virus has returned, it won't work to simply re-do the treatment even with the other form of interferon. The chances are pretty good you would get the same result in the end. So you need to change some factor – either treat for a longer period, or with a higher dose, or, most attractive, add one of the new drugs to the treatment protocol. If it turns out you have relapsed, you'll want to explore all these options with your doctor. If you do not have a severe degree of liver fibrosis, it will almost certainly make sense to wait until the new drugs are approved for general treatment. This should occur in about two years. This will dramatically improve your chances of success. Good luck!
I'm genotype 1 b. That's why the doctor said that i have to get 48 weeks treatment ( i make it 52 weeks just to make sure the treatment will be successful,lol...).
I always take the HCV RNA test every 3 months while the treatment running. And last time i did it at Sept 2008. I guess u're right,i should take the test again to make sure rather if treatment succesed or not.
But this thing really make me confused,should i run another treatment using other product (in this case using pegassys)? Is it possible that the treatment succesful but the SGOT,SGPT & GGT still increasing??
What genotype are/were you?
Schering-Plough's product PegIntron is dosed differently than Roche's product Pegasys. So 100 mcg of PegIntron would be the correct dose for you if you weigh between 65 and 75 kilo.
If I understand correctly, you finished treatment in June 2008 and then got a viral load test 3 months later in September 2008. At 12 weeks post treatment you are just about certain to get a correct result whether or not your treatment has been successful or not. Still it is considered that one should have a viral load test taken at 6 months post treatment to make sure. I believe you are fine and do not have hepatitis C anymore, but to make sure I suggest you take yet one more viral load test.
You need to be tested for viral RNA again.
You seem to be saying you have not been tested since finishing treatment.
You should be tested at twelve and twenty four weeks post treatment.
If these are negative the treatment has been successful..