I remember your telling me that you were glad I got the trial with ribavirin. Ran across some thing yesterday--copied and pasted it and now I can't find the whole article. However, I will post what I copied. It is not out of context. I found it interesting.
" Larger studies have been conducted in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Poynard et al (21) examined liver biopsy specimens taken before and after therapy from 153 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis treated with different pegylated IFN and ribavirin regimens. Using the METAVIR scoring system, they found that the extent of liver fibrosis had improved in 75 (49%) patients: from stage 4 to stage 3 in 23 patients, to stage 2 in 26 patients, to stage 1 in 23 patients, and to a virtually normal histological appearance in 3 patients. No such improvements were recorded in the control group of patients treated with IFN monotherapy. Reversal of cirrhosis was more common among younger patients."
Looks like ribavirin is important in liver healing. Wish I could find the article again to get dates, etc. Don't know how this affects liver healing with the new meds.
Thanks for the info on what tests to look at after treatment. I'm sure my cirrhosis was in early stage as I had few side effects from Hep C over the years--or at least none that I noticed. My labs just started to change during the last year before treatment.
SuziQ
mallani said
Jan 7, 2014
Hi SuziQ,
Whether fibrosis reverses or not is not all that important. My doc has been using some of the many new 'anti-fibrotics' on and off for the last 10 years. Up to now, he has not noticed any to be effective.
HCC is the biggest worry and this is why 6 monthly imaging and AFP levels are required. He told me that I no longer need yearly gastroscopies for varices, as he has never seen them develop after SVR. As long as my platelets, albumin, prothrombin time and bilirubin remain normal, I'm a happy chappie.
I haven't bothered with a followup Fibroscan, as it doesn't matter much in the scheme of things. Cheers.
suziq said
Jan 7, 2014
Thanks Jill,
I missed reading Ave of the Scars when I got my newsletter. I suspected, but was not sure, that damage could continue or not reverse after treatment in some. Since I have cirrhosis, am old and had the disease about 47 or more years, I had planned to go back to my supplements after treatment. There are a couple of protocols that I do not consider "snake oil". This helps with my decision to use supplements again after treatment.
There are anti-fibrotics in early testing, but, for the present, are only for people with fatty liver disease. My coordinator and I had a discussion about anti- fibrotics a couple of months ago. Let's hope they work and become available in a few years to everyone.
In the US, Fibroscan is not yet readily available. Doctors still use Fibrosure and biopsy so checking for damage could be expensive.
SuziQ
Zlikster said
Jan 7, 2014
cheers Jill!
GT7? family is getting bigger :)
wow, not a single company working on new DAAs for GT3s anymore? ;(
Cinnamon Girl said
Jan 7, 2014
I didn`t enjoy that bit much either, Malcolm! I didn`t have a biopsy but I suspect that after having the virus for over 40 years before I did my tx, I must have had some degree of fibrosis. To quote from the article..."In CHC pts who had previously developed significant fibrosis, viral cure was not associated with fibrosis regression in 46 % of cases, 10 years later."
So let`s hope we`re all in the lucky 54%!
Thanks.
mallani said
Jan 6, 2014
Thanks Jill. I did not enjoy the 'Avenue of the scars' bit. Cheers.
Hi Mallani,
I remember your telling me that you were glad I got the trial with ribavirin. Ran across some thing yesterday--copied and pasted it and now I can't find the whole article. However, I will post what I copied. It is not out of context. I found it interesting.
" Larger studies have been conducted in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Poynard et al (21) examined liver biopsy specimens taken before and after therapy from 153 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis treated with different pegylated IFN and ribavirin regimens. Using the METAVIR scoring system, they found that the extent of liver fibrosis had improved in 75 (49%) patients: from stage 4 to stage 3 in 23 patients, to stage 2 in 26 patients, to stage 1 in 23 patients, and to a virtually normal histological appearance in 3 patients. No such improvements were recorded in the control group of patients treated with IFN monotherapy. Reversal of cirrhosis was more common among younger patients."
Looks like ribavirin is important in liver healing. Wish I could find the article again to get dates, etc. Don't know how this affects liver healing with the new meds.
Thanks for the info on what tests to look at after treatment. I'm sure my cirrhosis was in early stage as I had few side effects from Hep C over the years--or at least none that I noticed. My labs just started to change during the last year before treatment.
SuziQ
Hi SuziQ,
Whether fibrosis reverses or not is not all that important. My doc has been using some of the many new 'anti-fibrotics' on and off for the last 10 years. Up to now, he has not noticed any to be effective.
HCC is the biggest worry and this is why 6 monthly imaging and AFP levels are required. He told me that I no longer need yearly gastroscopies for varices, as he has never seen them develop after SVR. As long as my platelets, albumin, prothrombin time and bilirubin remain normal, I'm a happy chappie.
I haven't bothered with a followup Fibroscan, as it doesn't matter much in the scheme of things. Cheers.
Thanks Jill,
I missed reading Ave of the Scars when I got my newsletter. I suspected, but was not sure, that damage could continue or not reverse after treatment in some. Since I have cirrhosis, am old and had the disease about 47 or more years, I had planned to go back to my supplements after treatment. There are a couple of protocols that I do not consider "snake oil". This helps with my decision to use supplements again after treatment.
There are anti-fibrotics in early testing, but, for the present, are only for people with fatty liver disease. My coordinator and I had a discussion about anti- fibrotics a couple of months ago. Let's hope they work and become available in a few years to everyone.
In the US, Fibroscan is not yet readily available. Doctors still use Fibrosure and biopsy so checking for damage could be expensive.
SuziQ
cheers Jill!
GT7? family is getting bigger :)
wow, not a single company working on new DAAs for GT3s anymore? ;(
I didn`t enjoy that bit much either, Malcolm! I didn`t have a biopsy but I suspect that after having the virus for over 40 years before I did my tx, I must have had some degree of fibrosis. To quote from the article..."In CHC pts who had previously developed significant fibrosis, viral cure was not associated with fibrosis regression in 46 % of cases, 10 years later."
So let`s hope we`re all in the lucky 54%!
Thanks.
Thanks Jill. I did not enjoy the 'Avenue of the scars' bit. Cheers.
January 2014 HCV Advocate Newletter...
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2014/advocate0114.html