Yup, all them labs are lookin mighty fine indeed! - figured.
Agree, the fortyish range IS a nice stable, consistant level to hold, good enough improvement, from prior lows 27/30's! Really good to know your GFR's are holding well - and yes, time will tell what improvements we might yet get to see in that area!
Only when you have time, do update us on how you are feeling, complaints, physical things you have noted improvements in (head or body). Are you still overworking yourself? I'm figuring that too!
I think you have done just super! Good work curing yourself. Congrats on your EOT+12 week UND!!!!
Your fan, C.
Tig said
Apr 17, 2017
Hi Chris,
It's great to hear from you! I'm thrilled that you're doing so well. Those numbers are beautiful, congratulations on your victory! The GFR, BUN and creatinine will hopefully settle down soon. It takes time for all the good things to happen.
We all appreciate your kind words and hope you stay in touch. Keep the good luck flowing!
Lchris1 said
Apr 17, 2017
Hello and happy Easter to all! Been away for a bit but my thoughts are often with everyone here. Yes, Canuck, my 12 week came back UND about 1 month ago. Liver and kidney functions look better. Alt-Ast=16-26.BUN&Creatinine still > normal but better.GFR was as low as 27 15mth ago, now 40.
I don't know how treatment would have been without 'HepCFriends', I'm forever grateful to everyone here! Well it's late &I'm still having dinner, will be keeping tabs here. Thanks and God Bless, hope to talk to you soon.
Chris
Canuck said
Apr 5, 2017
Hail Lchris!
Been a while since you posted. Things MUST be going well! I hope and bet they are. You must have had your EOT+12 done by now?
Hope you check in and see this here (as I'm not really sure if this is where you left off in your last post)?
Just wanted to say I hoped you were faring well, and I found this article - made me think of you - NOT really because of ANY of the details about Zep or HIV, etc., (those were not applicable in your case, and, you got well-cured with your carefully crafted/altered hard-won sof/dac regime) - actually, the only bit I thought of as quite interesting in your case, was the very last sentence! - which generally spoke to the hopeful-looking renal improvements shown after getting rid of HCV, and how this warrants further deliberations! Sounds good and promising to me! I believe you have already seen some renal-wise improvements to the good! C.
Renal function unaffected in patients with CKD, HCV treated with Zepatier
Reddy KR, et al.Hepatol Res. 2017;doi:10.1111/hepr.12899. April 3, 2017
Zepatier treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients with stage III chronic kidney disease resulted in almost all patients - including patients with HIV coinfection - achieving sustained virologic response and did not worsen renal function, according to results of a retrospective study.
"Declining kidney function among patients with already moderately impaired renal disease ... increases the risk of renal-related comorbidities and the associated health care burden," K. Rajender Reddy, MD, from the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote. "Treatment options for patients with HCV infection and moderately impaired renal function therefore should combine high rates of virologic cure with a safety profile that does not further impair renal function."
The researchers conducted a study of patients with stage III chronic kidney disease enrolled in multiple Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir, Merck) phase 2/3 clinical trials. Patients included in the study had chronic HCV infection and received elbasvir 50 mg/grazoprevir 100 mg with or without ribavirin for 8 to 18 weeks. Researchers defined stage III chronic kidney disease as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 to 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or greater at baseline.
Out of 1,689 patients, the researchers identified 32 for analysis. One patient was treated for 8 weeks, 26 were treated for 12 weeks and five were treated for 16 to 18 weeks. Thirteen patients had HIV, 10 of whom were receiving concomitant Viread (tenofovir, Gilead). Compared with all 1,689 patients with HCV, the proportion of patients with HIV coinfection was higher in the cohort with stage III chronic kidney disease (17% vs. 41%).
Median eGFR at baseline was 56 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 45-59), 58 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 41-78) at end of treatment and 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 38-78) at 12 weeks follow-up. Thirty-one patients achieved sustained virologic response.
The 10 patients with HIV coinfection receiving concomitant tenofovir had similar eGFR at baseline (56.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 50-58), end of therapy (57 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 46-59) and 12 weeks follow-up (58 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 52-64) compared with the 22 patients who did not receive the concomitant therapy at baseline (56 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 52-58), end of therapy (58 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 56-65) and 12 weeks follow-up (60 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 54-66).
"Data presented here are consistent with the known safety profile of [elbasvir/grazoprevir] in patients with severe renal impairment, and suggest that [elbasvir/grazoprevir] is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with compromised renal function, irrespective of baseline eGFR," the researchers wrote. "While on HCV therapy, 12 of 32 patients showed an improvement in [chronic kidney disease] stage, and thus the question of any potential benefit, along with predictors of improvement in renal function after successful HCV treatment, needs to be explored in a larger cohort." - by Talitha Bennett
Canuck said
Dec 30, 2016
Hey,
Thnaks for the further data.
Better and better news, all in all!
Glad you got that GI guy appointment arranged. It will be good when you have all the right guys following you.
SO pleased to see your lab improvements!!! Sounds like your kidneys (and your liver) are happier organs! GREAT your creatinine is lower (1.8 is a definite improvement over your former 2.1), the correct direction! We will stive to see you hit 1.2 or 1.3 soon!! The correct direction for your GFR, (upwards from 30 to 41 is a very good thing), we will strive to get closer to the 50/60 range. I hear BUN's can, as well, just decrease (alone) from gaining a better functioning liver!
With HCV now removed from your health equation, I am really hopeful you will KEEP seeing improvements, in a growing fashion, decreasing BUN's and creatinine's and increasing GFR's. It is ALREADY sounding really good. I am very pleased you have shown these improvements already!
Platelets (I hear) can take some time, but they will come. I am not up on it , but I don't think yours are rock bottom? Better would be 150??
Duh!! - you answered your own curiosity - uhuh, adequate sleep and exercise (and the right nutrition) are important! Try sleeping more! I have a feeling you do not always push yourself to get enough of the things that will help you heal best - like sleep? There are always things on our lists that we prioritize, aren't there.
I am hoping, as you continue to improve, fatigue feelings will also improve. I am very pleased with your progress thus far! C.
Lchris1 said
Dec 30, 2016
Just got Labs back from 12/21, all liver function in normal range (ALT 16 AST23, Bili .9)..., kidneys show improvement: creatinine was 2.1, now 1.81; BUN 35; GFR was around 30, now 41; Platelets still low 134.
I'm still dealing with "tiredness" having a lot of trouble getting motivated. Gonna make more effort to get 8 hrs sleep at night, see if that helps. Finally have an Dr appointment next Friday (PCP). G.I. Dr's office is communicating with me again. I expect a call from them now that Labs are back.. Not a good thing going thru this w/o medical supervision, (but don't regret it). Listening to everyone in this forum kept most anxiety at bay. Thanks all!
Canuck said
Dec 17, 2016
Hey great LC1,
I'm so glad your done. 24 weeks IS a long time. But what you did (going and getting your own drugs and beating this HCV) is the best thing you could have done for yourself! I am glad you mention that ALL labs are looking better.
Been thinking of you and wondering how all was going, Jaggles is also considering the neccesity of having to get her own drugs (just like you and BCFish and Razorblade were forced to do, each in your own ways). She will be reassured by seeing all you brave people with smarts getting yourselves the best possible treatment for yourselves, and doing so well.
You gotter beat bro, und at 6 and 14 weeks, and your stellar progress, makes your SVR a mere technicality!
So your next VL is now, at 24 week EOT?, or, is your next VL on week 36 (that would be EOT+12)?
Do fill us in on all. Including how your ALT's, Bili's and kidneys are fairing.
Your hard fatty liver bears following, I would submit to and push for good follow-up on all fronts, fibroscans, ultrasounds and whatever they will offer you frequently. You DID/do have some physical conditions that MERIT good watching, on endscopic fronts/ U/S fronts, acites, portal hypertension, higher fat and higher kPa fibroscan, aside from following your your hard working kidneys and blood pressure meds.
I am guessing now (more than ever) that that is exacly what your Indian doc was doing with your "different" every other day dosing of sof, trying not to overburden your kidneys, perhaps not such an unusal or unwise event of thinking (on his part), just not commonly seen. Your therapy has worked and your kidneys are no worse off, so, is that wrong?? Certainly not for me to guess he was wrong, his decision may well be quite right and wise, to side on caution for your kidneys.
I firmly believe with your HCV now beat, you can look forward to seeing many things, including your other conditions, not getting worse and will start improving.
I was especially glad to hear about the improvements to your fog, so far. I know how inconvenient/debilitating and worrying that can be (to say the least!) I too had it bad, especially got worse during treatment - big time, counting on my fingers and such, clueless, partner took the car keys away from me, and glad he did! My fog has improved, and still is improving, my fatigue is morphing too in better ways. I am looking forward to seeing what more things improve for me and how long they take to show - good so far! I hope the same for you.
Keep us posted, we will revel in all your good news to come. C.
Observer said
Dec 17, 2016
Great news that you're done and your lab work has been favourable. It sure takes a while for the drugs to leave the system, I am sure it was 6-8 months for me but like you, I saw improvements within a few weeks.
Please let us know when you get the SVR that you earned
xox A
Tig said
Dec 16, 2016
Hey Chris,
That's the kind of news I enjoy reading, over and over! You handled treatment like a champ. Doesn't seem possible that 6 months of treatment has come and gone for you. I remember my time in the trenches too. It seems like the time flies by, when you're not the one counting pills! Good job and even better results.
Don't forget to continue with the hydration program for the time being. It'll take a week or two to clear all the drugs, so keep flushing and renourishing a battle hardened body!
I'm glad we could be here to help you along the way. Please keep in touch and update us as soon as you get the great news of SVR. I know it's coming!
Lchris1 said
Dec 16, 2016
Thought I'd update you all. First want to thank everyone for their knowledge, experiences, and support for one another. While I don't post often, I continually glean much from you all. As of last night, finished 24 weeks of "unconventional ?" treatment. UND by 6wks & 14wks. After 1 or 2 wks, I increasingly began to feel healthier. Still have tiredness at times; fog is improving (at times I struggled to make the simplest decisions). My labs improving overall. Now its time to confidently wait for the "SVR". Thanks again & God bless you.
Hey Lchris,
So glad to hear from you!
Thanks for the good news update.
Yup, all them labs are lookin mighty fine indeed! - figured.
Agree, the fortyish range IS a nice stable, consistant level to hold, good enough improvement, from prior lows 27/30's! Really good to know your GFR's are holding well - and yes, time will tell what improvements we might yet get to see in that area!
Only when you have time, do update us on how you are feeling, complaints, physical things you have noted improvements in (head or body). Are you still overworking yourself? I'm figuring that too!
I think you have done just super! Good work curing yourself. Congrats on your EOT+12 week UND!!!!
Your fan, C.
Hi Chris,
It's great to hear from you! I'm thrilled that you're doing so well. Those numbers are beautiful, congratulations on your victory! The GFR, BUN and creatinine will hopefully settle down soon. It takes time for all the good things to happen.
We all appreciate your kind words and hope you stay in touch. Keep the good luck flowing!
Hello and happy Easter to all! Been away for a bit but my thoughts are often with everyone here. Yes, Canuck, my 12 week came back UND about 1 month ago. Liver and kidney functions look better. Alt-Ast=16-26.BUN&Creatinine still > normal but better.GFR was as low as 27 15mth ago, now 40.
I don't know how treatment would have been without 'HepCFriends', I'm forever grateful to everyone here! Well it's late &I'm still having dinner, will be keeping tabs here. Thanks and God Bless, hope to talk to you soon.
Chris
Hail Lchris!
Been a while since you posted. Things MUST be going well! I hope and bet they are. You must have had your EOT+12 done by now?
Hope you check in and see this here (as I'm not really sure if this is where you left off in your last post)?
Just wanted to say I hoped you were faring well, and I found this article - made me think of you - NOT really because of ANY of the details about Zep or HIV, etc., (those were not applicable in your case, and, you got well-cured with your carefully crafted/altered hard-won sof/dac regime) - actually, the only bit I thought of as quite interesting in your case, was the very last sentence! - which generally spoke to the hopeful-looking renal improvements shown after getting rid of HCV, and how this warrants further deliberations! Sounds good and promising to me! I believe you have already seen some renal-wise improvements to the good!
C.
Renal function unaffected in patients with CKD, HCV treated with Zepatier
Reddy KR, et al. Hepatol Res. 2017;doi:10.1111/hepr.12899. April 3, 2017
Zepatier treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients with stage III chronic kidney disease resulted in almost all patients - including patients with HIV coinfection - achieving sustained virologic response and did not worsen renal function, according to results of a retrospective study.
"Declining kidney function among patients with already moderately impaired renal disease ... increases the risk of renal-related comorbidities and the associated health care burden," K. Rajender Reddy, MD, from the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote. "Treatment options for patients with HCV infection and moderately impaired renal function therefore should combine high rates of virologic cure with a safety profile that does not further impair renal function."
The researchers conducted a study of patients with stage III chronic kidney disease enrolled in multiple Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir, Merck) phase 2/3 clinical trials. Patients included in the study had chronic HCV infection and received elbasvir 50 mg/grazoprevir 100 mg with or without ribavirin for 8 to 18 weeks. Researchers defined stage III chronic kidney disease as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 to 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or greater at baseline.
Out of 1,689 patients, the researchers identified 32 for analysis. One patient was treated for 8 weeks, 26 were treated for 12 weeks and five were treated for 16 to 18 weeks. Thirteen patients had HIV, 10 of whom were receiving concomitant Viread (tenofovir, Gilead). Compared with all 1,689 patients with HCV, the proportion of patients with HIV coinfection was higher in the cohort with stage III chronic kidney disease (17% vs. 41%).
Median eGFR at baseline was 56 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 45-59), 58 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 41-78) at end of treatment and 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 38-78) at 12 weeks follow-up. Thirty-one patients achieved sustained virologic response.
The 10 patients with HIV coinfection receiving concomitant tenofovir had similar eGFR at baseline (56.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 50-58), end of therapy (57 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 46-59) and 12 weeks follow-up (58 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 52-64) compared with the 22 patients who did not receive the concomitant therapy at baseline (56 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 52-58), end of therapy (58 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 56-65) and 12 weeks follow-up (60 mL/min/1.73 m2; range, 54-66).
"Data presented here are consistent with the known safety profile of [elbasvir/grazoprevir] in patients with severe renal impairment, and suggest that [elbasvir/grazoprevir] is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with compromised renal function, irrespective of baseline eGFR," the researchers wrote. "While on HCV therapy, 12 of 32 patients showed an improvement in [chronic kidney disease] stage, and thus the question of any potential benefit, along with predictors of improvement in renal function after successful HCV treatment, needs to be explored in a larger cohort." - by Talitha Bennett
Hey,
Thnaks for the further data.
Better and better news, all in all!
Glad you got that GI guy appointment arranged. It will be good when you have all the right guys following you.
SO pleased to see your lab improvements!!! Sounds like your kidneys (and your liver) are happier organs! GREAT your creatinine is lower (1.8 is a definite improvement over your former 2.1), the correct direction! We will stive to see you hit 1.2 or 1.3 soon!! The correct direction for your GFR, (upwards from 30 to 41 is a very good thing), we will strive to get closer to the 50/60 range. I hear BUN's can, as well, just decrease (alone) from gaining a better functioning liver!
With HCV now removed from your health equation, I am really hopeful you will KEEP seeing improvements, in a growing fashion, decreasing BUN's and creatinine's and increasing GFR's. It is ALREADY sounding really good. I am very pleased you have shown these improvements already!
Platelets (I hear) can take some time, but they will come. I am not up on it , but I don't think yours are rock bottom? Better would be 150??
Duh!! - you answered your own curiosity - uhuh, adequate sleep and exercise (and the right nutrition) are important! Try sleeping more! I have a feeling you do not always push yourself to get enough of the things that will help you heal best - like sleep? There are always things on our lists that we prioritize, aren't there.
I am hoping, as you continue to improve, fatigue feelings will also improve. I am very pleased with your progress thus far!
C.
I'm still dealing with "tiredness" having a lot of trouble getting motivated. Gonna make more effort to get 8 hrs sleep at night, see if that helps. Finally have an Dr appointment next Friday (PCP). G.I. Dr's office is communicating with me again. I expect a call from them now that Labs are back.. Not a good thing going thru this w/o medical supervision, (but don't regret it). Listening to everyone in this forum kept most anxiety at bay. Thanks all!
Hey great LC1,
I'm so glad your done. 24 weeks IS a long time. But what you did (going and getting your own drugs and beating this HCV) is the best thing you could have done for yourself! I am glad you mention that ALL labs are looking better.
Been thinking of you and wondering how all was going, Jaggles is also considering the neccesity of having to get her own drugs (just like you and BCFish and Razorblade were forced to do, each in your own ways). She will be reassured by seeing all you brave people with smarts getting yourselves the best possible treatment for yourselves, and doing so well.
You gotter beat bro, und at 6 and 14 weeks, and your stellar progress, makes your SVR a mere technicality!
So your next VL is now, at 24 week EOT?, or, is your next VL on week 36 (that would be EOT+12)?
Do fill us in on all. Including how your ALT's, Bili's and kidneys are fairing.
Your hard fatty liver bears following, I would submit to and push for good follow-up on all fronts, fibroscans, ultrasounds and whatever they will offer you frequently. You DID/do have some physical conditions that MERIT good watching, on endscopic fronts/ U/S fronts, acites, portal hypertension, higher fat and higher kPa fibroscan, aside from following your your hard working kidneys and blood pressure meds.
I am guessing now (more than ever) that that is exacly what your Indian doc was doing with your "different" every other day dosing of sof, trying not to overburden your kidneys, perhaps not such an unusal or unwise event of thinking (on his part), just not commonly seen. Your therapy has worked and your kidneys are no worse off, so, is that wrong?? Certainly not for me to guess he was wrong, his decision may well be quite right and wise, to side on caution for your kidneys.
I firmly believe with your HCV now beat, you can look forward to seeing many things, including your other conditions, not getting worse and will start improving.
I was especially glad to hear about the improvements to your fog, so far. I know how inconvenient/debilitating and worrying that can be (to say the least!) I too had it bad, especially got worse during treatment - big time, counting on my fingers and such, clueless, partner took the car keys away from me, and glad he did! My fog has improved, and still is improving, my fatigue is morphing too in better ways. I am looking forward to seeing what more things improve for me and how long they take to show - good so far! I hope the same for you.
Keep us posted, we will revel in all your good news to come.
C.
Great news that you're done and your lab work has been favourable. It sure takes a while for the drugs to leave the system, I am sure it was 6-8 months for me but like you, I saw improvements within a few weeks.
Please let us know when you get the SVR that you earned
xox A
Hey Chris,
That's the kind of news I enjoy reading, over and over! You handled treatment like a champ. Doesn't seem possible that 6 months of treatment has come and gone for you. I remember my time in the trenches too. It seems like the time flies by, when you're not the one counting pills! Good job and even better results.
Don't forget to continue with the hydration program for the time being. It'll take a week or two to clear all the drugs, so keep flushing and renourishing a battle hardened body!
I'm glad we could be here to help you along the way. Please keep in touch and update us as soon as you get the great news of SVR. I know it's coming!
Thought I'd update you all. First want to thank everyone for their knowledge, experiences, and support for one another. While I don't post often, I continually glean much from you all. As of last night, finished 24 weeks of "unconventional ?" treatment. UND by 6wks & 14wks. After 1 or 2 wks, I increasingly began to feel healthier. Still have tiredness at times; fog is improving (at times I struggled to make the simplest decisions). My labs improving overall. Now its time to confidently wait for the "SVR". Thanks again & God bless you.