You are correct. Just added it. Will change it. Thanks for noticing
JimmyK said
Jul 13, 2016
marjim48 wrote:
Thanks so much for all your help. 4 week blood draw is 7/26.
Is your sig line by any chance a typo?
started 12 week Harvoni 7/24/16
Should that be 6/24? Thanks!
JimmyK
marjim48 said
Jul 13, 2016
Thanks so much for all your help. 4 week blood draw is 7/26.
Tig said
Jul 13, 2016
The AST is an enzyme present in various parts of the body, not liver specific like the ALT is. It accompanies most comprehensive liver panels, but your doctor may not have ordered a CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) which includes that, unusual, but s/he may not have ordered it. The ALT is indicative of specific liver issues and the AST can involve additional areas of the body, like muscle and heart.
You can switch specialists anytime you think it's necessary, especially if you don't trust their knowledge, manner or advice. The thing with these new treatments, is their ease and limited need to visit the doctors office. Once started, there are generally minimal side effects or problems encountered, so all you need is occasional blood work to assure things are progressing normally. Unless you have specific needs or problems that you think this GE should address, then staying with her, shouldn't be a problem. When you have achieved SVR, there's probably no need to continue seeing a specialist anyway. If you do in the future, then changing to the Hepatologist might be the best choice. Just my opinion of course!
JimmyK said
Jul 13, 2016
Howdy!
Yes you being an F2 is the validation that Harvoni x 12 is the proper regiment. F4 with previous PegInt tx would be an indication that perhaps 24 weeks would be needed.
Switching Doctors is probably less important that switching Labs. It is best that Lab Work throughout be conducted by the same facility.
If it were me I would wait for the 4 week Blood Draw. At that time reconsider if you need to switch or will stick with the same Doc.
JimmyK
marjim48 said
Jul 13, 2016
So a specific AST score is not necessary? My old gastroenterologist always ran it and it showed up in the quest report.
On another note. I truly dislike my current gastroenterologist. Even my husband agrees that it is a bad fit. I will obviously stay with her for the 12 weeks. If I am undetected then, do you think I can switch? There is a new hepatologist in town with stellar credentials.
Tig said
Jul 13, 2016
That's what I needed to see! That indicates F2 fibrosis, which is considered moderate on the Metavir scale and your inflammation score of A0-A1 is low. All in all, you're still in good shape. If you look at the links I posted below, the Wikipedia page shows the scale comparison and you'll see where that 0.48 falls on the scale.
This information provides the doctor with the fibrosis and inflammation stage of your liver and gives guidance on length of treatment, etc.
marjim48 said
Jul 13, 2016
I see fibrosis stage F2......fibrosis score 0.48....necroflammat act score 0.18....necroinflammat ACT grade A0-A1
Tig said
Jul 13, 2016
There should be a score listed there or Quest may not include it on the results page. Here's a little more information on it.
That appears to be the test that's known as the Fibrosure. It uses an algorithm to determine your fibrosis stage. It utilizes blood markers (tests) to determine that. Is there any additional information on your test report? I'll do some more checking on your results.
Don't see it listed under that either. There is an ALT (30).
Other scores-
Alpha 2 389
Apolipop 192
Haptoglobin 93
GGT 47
Total Bilirubin 0.4
But nothing that looks like AST. I am assuming that what I pull up on the patient portal from Quest is what they send to my doc.
When I was at the Endocriologist in May, he drew blood. I had and AST of 40 (which was in the normal column). Interestingly enough my ALT was also in the normal column with a 40 (2.0-46 range). However on the June results it was a 30 and came up in the H
Re-Buy said
Jul 13, 2016
Hi Mariam
AST= aspartate aminotransferase on my bloodwork reports.
Tig said
Jul 13, 2016
Miriam,
They used to call it SGOT and the ALT was called SGPT. Do you have the results that you could post?
marjim48 said
Jul 13, 2016
I just realized that I do not see an AST score on my pre-harvoni blood work from Quest. Does it go by any other name? Would the doc not have ordered it?
You are correct. Just added it. Will change it. Thanks for noticing
Is your sig line by any chance a typo?
started 12 week Harvoni 7/24/16
Should that be 6/24? Thanks!
JimmyK
Thanks so much for all your help. 4 week blood draw is 7/26.
The AST is an enzyme present in various parts of the body, not liver specific like the ALT is. It accompanies most comprehensive liver panels, but your doctor may not have ordered a CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) which includes that, unusual, but s/he may not have ordered it. The ALT is indicative of specific liver issues and the AST can involve additional areas of the body, like muscle and heart.
You can switch specialists anytime you think it's necessary, especially if you don't trust their knowledge, manner or advice. The thing with these new treatments, is their ease and limited need to visit the doctors office. Once started, there are generally minimal side effects or problems encountered, so all you need is occasional blood work to assure things are progressing normally. Unless you have specific needs or problems that you think this GE should address, then staying with her, shouldn't be a problem. When you have achieved SVR, there's probably no need to continue seeing a specialist anyway. If you do in the future, then changing to the Hepatologist might be the best choice. Just my opinion of course!
Howdy!
Yes you being an F2 is the validation that Harvoni x 12 is the proper regiment. F4 with previous PegInt tx would be an indication that perhaps 24 weeks would be needed.
Switching Doctors is probably less important that switching Labs. It is best that Lab Work throughout be conducted by the same facility.
If it were me I would wait for the 4 week Blood Draw. At that time reconsider if you need to switch or will stick with the same Doc.
JimmyK
So a specific AST score is not necessary? My old gastroenterologist always ran it and it showed up in the quest report.
On another note. I truly dislike my current gastroenterologist. Even my husband agrees that it is a bad fit. I will obviously stay with her for the 12 weeks. If I am undetected then, do you think I can switch? There is a new hepatologist in town with stellar credentials.
That's what I needed to see! That indicates F2 fibrosis, which is considered moderate on the Metavir scale and your inflammation score of A0-A1 is low. All in all, you're still in good shape. If you look at the links I posted below, the Wikipedia page shows the scale comparison and you'll see where that 0.48 falls on the scale.
This information provides the doctor with the fibrosis and inflammation stage of your liver and gives guidance on length of treatment, etc.
I see fibrosis stage F2......fibrosis score 0.48....necroflammat act score 0.18....necroinflammat ACT grade A0-A1
There should be a score listed there or Quest may not include it on the results page. Here's a little more information on it.
FIBROSURE/FIBROTEST
That appears to be the test that's known as the Fibrosure. It uses an algorithm to determine your fibrosis stage. It utilizes blood markers (tests) to determine that. Is there any additional information on your test report? I'll do some more checking on your results.
Here's more info on the test. FIBROSURE
Don't see it listed under that either. There is an ALT (30).
Other scores-
Alpha 2 389
Apolipop 192
Haptoglobin 93
GGT 47
Total Bilirubin 0.4
But nothing that looks like AST. I am assuming that what I pull up on the patient portal from Quest is what they send to my doc.
When I was at the Endocriologist in May, he drew blood. I had and AST of 40 (which was in the normal column). Interestingly enough my ALT was also in the normal column with a 40 (2.0-46 range). However on the June results it was a 30 and came up in the H
Hi Mariam
AST= aspartate aminotransferase on my bloodwork reports.
Miriam,
They used to call it SGOT and the ALT was called SGPT. Do you have the results that you could post?
I just realized that I do not see an AST score on my pre-harvoni blood work from Quest. Does it go by any other name? Would the doc not have ordered it?