I chose Victrelis because of the rash issue with Incivek. I have rashes anyway, but more due to PegIntron and Ribavirin, and different. Not like Incivek rash.
Before tx, my ALT was in the 50s to 100s. AST was in 40s to 80s.
I'm in week 12, now.
ALT during tx: 59, 50, 44, 17, 16, 16, 11.
AST during tx: 54, 45, 36, 23.
Dr stopped testing for AST after Week 8, so don't know what it is, now.
Form said
May 27, 2012
My enzymes have also been elevated about double normal my whole treatment. I am on week 38, undetectable after 4. Did 12weeks of Incivek. The rash is so bad now I have open sores. Might have to go to ER tomorrow.
jrc said
May 25, 2012
mallani wrote:
Hi Phil and Alan, Thanks for the feedback. I'm geno 1b, cirrhotic, and like Phil, drank too much until 1997. My AST/ALT was 99/135 at start on leadin to Victrelis. Dropped to 64/63 at week 8, but now at week 10, back to 74/64. My doc said today that in cirrhotics enzymes are not very useful. The interferon evidently has a direct effect on hepatocytes so a consistent raised ALT does not indicate damage from virus elements. He was not convinced Vitamin D has any useful place, as all of his patients, including cirrhotics, have had normal Vit. D levels. I am getting my Vit D level checked at next blood test. We do not have access to Incivik in Australia, unless you want to pay for it, so that is why Victrelis is used here for now. I had asked why he chose Vict. as the 3 month treatment ( with Incivik) seemed more appealing than 11 months. I'll struggle on, hoping the fatigue, headaches and brain fog will improve a bit. Thanks, good luck!
Have you seen some peopls reaction to incivek? The rash can get deadly and cause you to stop tx. I am glad i did victrelis. Just my 2cents
mallani said
May 25, 2012
Hi Phil and Alan, Thanks for the feedback. I'm geno 1b, cirrhotic, and like Phil, drank too much until 1997. My AST/ALT was 99/135 at start on leadin to Victrelis. Dropped to 64/63 at week 8, but now at week 10, back to 74/64. My doc said today that in cirrhotics enzymes are not very useful. The interferon evidently has a direct effect on hepatocytes so a consistent raised ALT does not indicate damage from virus elements. He was not convinced Vitamin D has any useful place, as all of his patients, including cirrhotics, have had normal Vit. D levels. I am getting my Vit D level checked at next blood test. We do not have access to Incivik in Australia, unless you want to pay for it, so that is why Victrelis is used here for now. I had asked why he chose Vict. as the 3 month treatment ( with Incivik) seemed more appealing than 11 months. I'll struggle on, hoping the fatigue, headaches and brain fog will improve a bit. Thanks, good luck!
news said
May 24, 2012
My ALT and AST dropped to nearly normal right away and have stayed that way for the most part all during treatment. They run about 35-40 now. On the subject of hgb and hematocrit, we all have been low during treatment, feeling tired and winded, but living with it. Most doctors will say "Oh, your hemoglobin is just fine" until it gets down to around 9, because they consider this to be "normal" in treatment. You can see a "history" of all my bloods in the spreadsheet at:
My AST/ALT went from 180/270 to 50/80 in 3 weeks and has been around 20 since week 6. It had been elevated at those levels for over 15 years. Hemoglobin dropped below 10 at week 14. Riba reduced at Week 17. Back above 10 at week 19.
-- Edited by Phil G on Thursday 24th of May 2012 02:59:20 PM
mallani said
May 24, 2012
Hi all, has anyone kept a track of their liver enzymes during treatment? I would have assumed that the ALT in particular should drop, particularly after getting an undetected. I am now at week 10 on SOC + Victrelis, and got an undet. at Week 8. My ALT has been elevated since 1983. During SOC in 2000, my ALT did not drop below 91, even though I was PCR -ve ( they did not measure viral loads back then). After 6 months treatment, I became PCR +ve again. This time, my ALT at start of treatment was 135, and I have been happy to watch it drop and it was 63 at Week 8. At Week 10, it is now 64. I know it is a crude test but I am watching for any good signs, as I continue to feel dreadful and basically live in our apartment, rarely going out. My Hb has gone from 9.1 at Week 8 to 10 at Week 10, so I am not going to get any reduction of Ribavirin out of my doc! Any comments very welcome
I chose Victrelis because of the rash issue with Incivek. I have rashes anyway, but more due to PegIntron and Ribavirin, and different. Not like Incivek rash.
Before tx, my ALT was in the 50s to 100s. AST was in 40s to 80s.
I'm in week 12, now.
ALT during tx: 59, 50, 44, 17, 16, 16, 11.
AST during tx: 54, 45, 36, 23.
Dr stopped testing for AST after Week 8, so don't know what it is, now.
Have you seen some peopls reaction to incivek? The rash can get deadly and cause you to stop tx. I am glad i did victrelis. Just my 2cents
Hi Phil and Alan, Thanks for the feedback. I'm geno 1b, cirrhotic, and like Phil, drank too much until 1997. My AST/ALT was 99/135 at start on leadin to Victrelis. Dropped to 64/63 at week 8, but now at week 10, back to 74/64. My doc said today that in cirrhotics enzymes are not very useful. The interferon evidently has a direct effect on hepatocytes so a consistent raised ALT does not indicate damage from virus elements. He was not convinced Vitamin D has any useful place, as all of his patients, including cirrhotics, have had normal Vit. D levels. I am getting my Vit D level checked at next blood test. We do not have access to Incivik in Australia, unless you want to pay for it, so that is why Victrelis is used here for now. I had asked why he chose Vict. as the 3 month treatment ( with Incivik) seemed more appealing than 11 months. I'll struggle on, hoping the fatigue, headaches and brain fog will improve a bit. Thanks, good luck!
https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/xythoswfs/webview/_xy-7151756_1
Alan
My AST/ALT went from 180/270 to 50/80 in 3 weeks and has been around 20 since week 6. It had been elevated at those levels for over 15 years. Hemoglobin dropped below 10 at week 14. Riba reduced at Week 17. Back above 10 at week 19.
-- Edited by Phil G on Thursday 24th of May 2012 02:59:20 PM
Hi all, has anyone kept a track of their liver enzymes during treatment? I would have assumed that the ALT in particular should drop, particularly after getting an undetected. I am now at week 10 on SOC + Victrelis, and got an undet. at Week 8. My ALT has been elevated since 1983. During SOC in 2000, my ALT did not drop below 91, even though I was PCR -ve ( they did not measure viral loads back then). After 6 months treatment, I became PCR +ve again. This time, my ALT at start of treatment was 135, and I have been happy to watch it drop and it was 63 at Week 8. At Week 10, it is now 64. I know it is a crude test but I am watching for any good signs, as I continue to feel dreadful and basically live in our apartment, rarely going out. My Hb has gone from 9.1 at Week 8 to 10 at Week 10, so I am not going to get any reduction of Ribavirin out of my doc! Any comments very welcome