RE: Question About Successful Treatment

[Guest guest]

, I got the book you recommended. It says approximately 55% of those treated with the combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin get a sustained viral clearance. And 99% of patients who have a sustained viral clearance by six months post-treatment remain free of the virus. What does this mean, in easy to explain terms?

Question About Successful Treatment

The doctor called my husband with the results of his ultrasound today. He said it's consistent with what would be chronic HCV. Now all we have to do is wait for the appointment with the specialist to find out what exactly we are dealing with. This news did spark a discussion between me and my hubby. While we were talking, I told him I joined this group. I told him I'd send him the link, but for now, he just wants me to ask a question. He wants to know what the percentage is of people clearing the virus and not having to do the treatment more than once. I know the quesion and the answers to it is not that simple, but any information is appreciated.ThanksFEM

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[Guest guest]

55% of the time treatment works if you get to the six months of no viral load,but 1% will relapse out of that 55% before the 6 month mark of finishing treatment.My specilist told me yesterday I am very luck to have no viral load that I am cured.Now he has to find out why the kidney problems and frequency of urinary infections.

Gail

-----Original Message-----From: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies ]On Behalf Of FEMSent: January 17, 2008 11:14 AMTo: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies Subject: Re: Question About Successful Treatment

, I got the book you recommended. It says approximately 55% of those treated with the combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin get a sustained viral clearance. And 99% of patients who have a sustained viral clearance by six months post-treatment remain free of the virus. What does this mean, in easy to explain terms?

Question About Successful Treatment

The doctor called my husband with the results of his ultrasound today. He said it's consistent with what would be chronic HCV. Now all we have to do is wait for the appointment with the specialist to find out what exactly we are dealing with. This news did spark a discussion between me and my hubby. While we were talking, I told him I joined this group. I told him I'd send him the link, but for now, he just wants me to ask a question. He wants to know what the percentage is of people clearing the virus and not having to do the treatment more than once. I know the quesion and the answers to it is not that simple, but any information is appreciated.ThanksFEM

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[Guest guest]

First

of all, success rates are better for genotypes 2 & 3 – like 70-80%.

And about 45-60% for genotype 1. So that 55% is a really rough

average. Women average better than men, whites better than blacks,

younger better than older. So there are a lot of factors in it all.

The

long term studies (and this is reliable stuff now) say that if you stay clear

for 6 months after tx is over, you have a 99% chance of staying clear

forever. I’m a skeptic though and I didn’t feel really safe

until the 2 year mark.

Re:

Question About Successful Treatment

, I got the book you recommended. It says

approximately 55% of those treated with the combination of pegylated interferon

plus ribavirin get a sustained viral clearance. And 99% of patients who

have a sustained viral clearance by six months post-treatment remain free of

the virus. What does this mean, in easy to explain terms?

[Guest guest]

That’s

good. I like having one gastro for everything. It’s easier.

Re:

Question About Successful Treatment

Thanks Gail, I was getting so confused

reading so many different things. You made it easier to understand. How

long do you think you had the virus before you found out and started

treatement?

I called the American Liver Foundation today, and they

were so nice and helpful. I wanted to find out if there were any drs in

our area who specialize in HCV tx. And boy was I pleasantly surprised;

turns out the drs who will be doing his colonoscopy come very highly

recommended by the ALF for HCV tx. I will tell him to call his gp and

make sure that's who he refers him to for tx.

Thanks again,

FEM

[Guest guest]

Thats the same with me,I didn't feel safe until I hit the two year mark.

Gail

-----Original Message-----From: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies ]On Behalf Of MotleySent: January 17, 2008 6:34 PMTo: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies Subject: RE: Question About Successful Treatment

First of all, success rates are better for genotypes 2 & 3 – like 70-80%. And about 45-60% for genotype 1. So that 55% is a really rough average. Women average better than men, whites better than blacks, younger better than older. So there are a lot of factors in it all.

The long term studies (and this is reliable stuff now) say that if you stay clear for 6 months after tx is over, you have a 99% chance of staying clear forever. I’m a skeptic though and I didn’t feel really safe until the 2 year mark.

-----Original Message-----From: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies ] On Behalf Of FEMSent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:14 PMTo: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies Subject: Re: Question About Successful Treatment

, I got the book you recommended. It says approximately 55% of those treated with the combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin get a sustained viral clearance. And 99% of patients who have a sustained viral clearance by six months post-treatment remain free of the virus. What does this mean, in easy to explain terms?