Genotypes

[Guest guest]

Welcome , yes genotype 3 is easier to get rid of than some of the

others but doesn't necessarily mean yur husband will suffer any less, good

luck and let us know how things are progressing

Suzy

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Welcome , yes genotype 3 is easier to get rid of than some of the

others but doesn't necessarily mean yur husband will suffer any less, good

luck and let us know how things are progressing

Suzy

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Welcome , yes genotype 3 is easier to get rid of than some of the

others but doesn't necessarily mean yur husband will suffer any less, good

luck and let us know how things are progressing

Suzy

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi

It sounds good, he has a good chance of clearing the virus. I reckon all

the vitamins etc you mentioned are good, plus I would add vitamin B complex

without iron. I found this helped me with mouthsores, skin rash and dry

hair once I started treatment. good luck with it all.

love Sylv

Re: Genotypes

> Claudine, We'll we had his apt. today and all looks pretty good so far.

His

> biopsy results showed no permanent damage, some scar tissue no cancer. His

> count is over 1 million though with a Geno type 3a as you know. He is

going

> to start pegylated treatments in 6 weeks. He recently started with some

herbs

> including milk thistle, and is now on a low-fat diet. What do you all

think

> about milk thistle? He also takes a pill called liver cleanse. He also is

on

> a multi-vit,ester c and vit-e.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

It sounds good, he has a good chance of clearing the virus. I reckon all

the vitamins etc you mentioned are good, plus I would add vitamin B complex

without iron. I found this helped me with mouthsores, skin rash and dry

hair once I started treatment. good luck with it all.

love Sylv

Re: Genotypes

> Claudine, We'll we had his apt. today and all looks pretty good so far.

His

> biopsy results showed no permanent damage, some scar tissue no cancer. His

> count is over 1 million though with a Geno type 3a as you know. He is

going

> to start pegylated treatments in 6 weeks. He recently started with some

herbs

> including milk thistle, and is now on a low-fat diet. What do you all

think

> about milk thistle? He also takes a pill called liver cleanse. He also is

on

> a multi-vit,ester c and vit-e.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

It sounds good, he has a good chance of clearing the virus. I reckon all

the vitamins etc you mentioned are good, plus I would add vitamin B complex

without iron. I found this helped me with mouthsores, skin rash and dry

hair once I started treatment. good luck with it all.

love Sylv

Re: Genotypes

> Claudine, We'll we had his apt. today and all looks pretty good so far.

His

> biopsy results showed no permanent damage, some scar tissue no cancer. His

> count is over 1 million though with a Geno type 3a as you know. He is

going

> to start pegylated treatments in 6 weeks. He recently started with some

herbs

> including milk thistle, and is now on a low-fat diet. What do you all

think

> about milk thistle? He also takes a pill called liver cleanse. He also is

on

> a multi-vit,ester c and vit-e.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

It sounds good, he has a good chance of clearing the virus. I reckon all

the vitamins etc you mentioned are good, plus I would add vitamin B complex

without iron. I found this helped me with mouthsores, skin rash and dry

hair once I started treatment. good luck with it all.

love Sylv

Re: Genotypes

> Claudine, We'll we had his apt. today and all looks pretty good so far.

His

> biopsy results showed no permanent damage, some scar tissue no cancer. His

> count is over 1 million though with a Geno type 3a as you know. He is

going

> to start pegylated treatments in 6 weeks. He recently started with some

herbs

> including milk thistle, and is now on a low-fat diet. What do you all

think

> about milk thistle? He also takes a pill called liver cleanse. He also is

on

> a multi-vit,ester c and vit-e.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think Milk Thistle is THE most important

" alternative " item you can take for your liver. There

is plenty of evidence, mostly from Germany, that it

really can help protect the liver. I have come to

believe though that it is important to make sure you

get a good, reliable brand, one with a good

reputation. I used cheaper brands for a long time and

so no results. Two brands that I know of that studies

have been done with, and do have very good

reputations, are Maximum Milk Thistle

(www.liversupport.com) and Thistylin. I have a

" subscription " to Maximum Milk Thistle, and a three

months supply is automatically shipped to me via UPS

every three months. I love it, it's very convenient.

I also feel better and my LFTs have gone down since I

began taking it. I have also read several studies

about vitamin E helping the liver. I take 800IU

daily.

Did your husband's doctor say how much scar tissue he

had? Usually they will give it a score - like stage 1

or 2. As for his viral load, if it's only one

million, that is not too bad, but it sounds like he

had the same lousy viral load test that I just had.

Mine stopped counting at one million, so I could have

one million and one, or a hundred million. BIG

difference. It seems like his doctor would want a

better test done before treatment starts, to get an

accurate count. It doesn't make any difference with me

since I'm not on treatment.

Take care,

Claudine

Claudine

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/11/01 3:35:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

claudineintexas@... writes:

>

Claudine, Thanks for the website. Tom is on 800 units of e also 400 in the

am 400 in the pm. I know his Dr. did have the actual count and it was just

over a million. We have been so blown away by this all that it has been a

little overwhelming.

[Guest guest]

--- bigrigtom1@... wrote:

We have been so blown away by this

> all that it has been a

> little overwhelming.

>

>

You bet it's overwhelming!!! I was in shock for

months when I found out. I really kept expecting

someone to say it was all a mistake! So DO take some

time to catch your breath, learn, get more

comfortable, have your questions answered, etc. There

is almost NEVER a need to RUSH into anything. Good

luck!

Claudine

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/11/01 10:43:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

claudineintexas@... writes:

<<

You bet it's overwhelming!!! I was in shock for

months when I found out. I really kept expecting

someone to say it was all a mistake! So DO take some

time to catch your breath, learn, get more

comfortable, have your questions answered, etc. There

is almost NEVER a need to RUSH into anything. Good

luck! >>

Claudine, There is so much to learn. When we went to his Dr. we were in there

for quite a while but left with so many more questions.Why does the

interferon work and once cleared of the virus can it come back ??

& Tom

[Guest guest]

--- claudine intexas <claudineintexas@...> wrote:

>

> --- bigrigtom1@... wrote:

> We have been so blown away by this

> > all that it has been a

> > little overwhelming.

> >

> >

>

> You bet it's overwhelming!!! I was in shock for

> months when I found out. I really kept expecting

> someone to say it was all a mistake! So DO take some

> time to catch your breath, learn, get more

> comfortable, have your questions answered, etc. There

> is almost NEVER a need to RUSH into anything. Good

> luck!

> Claudine

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

,

Claudine is right. Find out the vital statistics. Then research. Then ask

us. We've done most of it and will share.

I won't tell you my whole story, but I've been through three rounds of

treatment...all of which failed. Don't be depressed. Researchers are coming

up with new and different things daily. Also, this will get more attention

than HIV did, faster, because it affects health care workers, which is how I

got it.

My failure was not due to lifestyle. I'm just too little to withstand

treatment. And if I don't stop this, the treatment will kill me.

I mostly lurk, but NOW I've really got to lurk. I've got to sell my house

and this is going to be a MAJOR PROJECT!!!!!!! So you guys might not hear

from me for awhile.

Also we're getting a new computer and I don't want to set it up here and have

to repack it and set it up there, too. So if you don't hear anything from me

for awhile, that's why.

Love you my wonderful friends. I pray for each and everyone of you, daily.

Bye Bye for now.

Anne

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I know I haven't wrote in a while, but I have been trying to make up for

the year on treatment.....(ha ha) I have been off treatment for 3 1/2

months. It feels good I still get tired. Have gained back all my weight

and more. My hair is coming back but no curl yet I had curly hair. I

went for my 3 month check up still non detectable (yea) but the doctor

said my blood count is low 11 should be 13. So I have to get blood test

and go May 5th I have to go to the hospital and get that thing where he

goes down your throat and looks around I am not worried just a little

concerned. Has anyone else had this done?

Jessie

E-Z DOES IT

[Guest guest]

Dr. Cecil is an extremely busy practicing physician with a huge patient load.

He will get back to you though. Just have some patience. He answers all his

emails...... God bless him!

~~~~~~~~~~

Genotypes Explained

It is much easier to talk of the hepatitis C virus as if it is a

single organism but in fact it is a range of viruses, similar enough to be

called hepatitis C virus, yet different enough to be classified into subgroups.

Viruses are microscopic and no person could ever see them with the naked eye.

Indeed, HCV is so small that there's been no confirmed actual sighting of it

using any type of microscope yet developed.

Consequently, a better way to understand the terms HCV 'genotypes' and

'subtypes' is to compare them to things that we can more readily relate to.

Genotypes

The group of birds we call 'raptors' (birds of prey) have evolved into different

main types. Imagining raptors as being hepatitis C viruses, you could take one

major raptor type, such as eagles, and imagine these as being one of HCV's main

types (genotypes).

Subtypes

But eagles as a group are made up of different sub types such as the American

Bald Eagle and Australia's Wedge Tailed Eagle and Sea Eagle. You could imagine

each of these as being one of the HCV subtypes that make up an HCV genotype.

Quasispecies

Within each of above particular types of eagles, there are further differences.

All Wedge Tailed Eagles, for example, differ from eachother in regard to wing

span, weight, colour, beak size, etc. Similarly, within a hepatitis C sub-type,

individual viruses differ from each other ever so slightly. Such viral

differences are not significant enough to form another sub-type but instead form

what's known as quasi-species. It is believed that within an HCV sub-type,

several million quasispecies may exist. Scientists predict that people who have

hepatitis C, have billions of actual

viruses circulating within their body. Although there may be one or two

predominant sub-types, the infection as a whole is not a single entity and is

composed of many different quasispecies.

Classifications

Biologists are generally not known for creativity when it comes to naming things

- hence hepatitis C virus. The most commonly used classification of hepatitis C

virus has HCV divided into the following genotypes (main types): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. As we've highlighted, HCV genotypes can be broken down

into sub-types, some of which include:

1a, 1b, 1c

2a, 2b, 2c

3a, 3b

4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e

5a

6a

7a, 7b

8a, 8b

9a

10a

11a

Genotype patterns

It is believed that the hepatitis C virus has evolved over a period of several

thousand years. This would explain the current general global patterns of

genotypes and subtypes:

1a - mostly found in North & South America; also common in Australia

1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

2a - is the most common genotype 2 in Japan and China.

2b - is the most common genotype 2 in the US and Northern Europe.

2c - the most common genotype 2 in Western and Southern Europe.

3a - highly prevalent here in Australia (40% of cases) and South Asia.

4a - highly prevalent in Egypt

4c - highly prevalent in Central Africa

5a - highly prevalent only in South Africa

6a - restricted to Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam

7a and 7b - common in Thailand

8a, 8b & 9a - prevalent in Vietnam

10a & 11a - found in Indonesia

It's believed that of the estimated 160,000 Australians with HCV, approx. 35%

have subtype '1a', 15% have '1b', 7% have '2', 35% have '3' (mostly being 3a).

The remaining people would have other genotypes.

Genotype and treatment

Current scientific belief is that factors such as duration of a

person's HCV infection, their HCV viral load, age, grade of liver inflammation

or stage of fibrosis may play an important role in determining response to

interferon treatment. Recent studies have suggested that a person's HCV subtype

(or subtypes) may influence their possible response to interferon, or

interferon-ribavirin combination treatment. World-wide trials are being

conducted which

will soon shed more light on this belief. We'll publish any reportsas they come

to hand.

Genotypes and Genetic Variation of Hepatitis C Virus by G. Maerterns & L.

Stuyver, reviewed by Dr Greg Dore of the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology &

Clinical Research. From The Hep C Review; Ed 23, December 1998; Harvey

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fatty Liver More Common with Hepatitis C - Genotype 3

Author: Nichols, senior medical writer

Author Date: 8/30/2002

Fatty Liver More Common in People with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3

NewsRx.com -August 29, 2002 - by Nichols, senior medical writer

Hepatic steatosis, or fatty liver, tends to be more common in people who are

infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 3. There are at least six known

genetic classifications or genotypes of HCV that individuals can become

infected with. These genotypes can affect the way patients respond to

treatment. New research is now pointing to HCV genotype 3 for generating

fatty liver in chronic hepatitis C patients, possibly by mechanisms affecting

lipid metabolism, researchers suggest.

In a prospective study, M. Hui and colleagues at Westmead Millennium

Institute, Sydney, Australia, looked at HCV genotype, body mass index (BMI),

and other metabolic indicators in 124 patients with chronic hepatitis C,

hoping to determine the predictors of nonalcoholic fatty liver and fibrosis

in relation to viral and host characteristics.

Statistical analysis suggested a link between being infected with HCV

genotype 3 and the extent of steatosis, according to Hui and colleagues.

" There were significant pair-wise interactions between genotype 3 status and

total cholesterol (p=0.01), current alcohol intake (p=0.04), and serum

alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p=0.01), " Hui's group stated.

Among those infected with HCV genotype 3, there was a negative relationship

between steatosis grade and serum cholesterol levels, but a positive

relationship between steatosis and serum triglyceride levels (Hepatic

steatosis in chronic hepatitis C infection. Journal of Gastroenterology and

Hepatology, August 2002;17(8):873-881).

Although BMI did not influence steatosis grade in people with genotype 3, it

did in patients with genotypes other than 3, joining serum ALT as a

significant predictor for degree of steatosis in those patients.

" Independent predictors of fibrosis were age (p=0.001), past alcohol intake

(p=0.04), ALT (p=0.002), serum insulin (p=0.001) and portal inflammation (p<

0.001), " Hui and coauthors remarked.

The data suggest HCV genotype 3 may alter lipid metabolism in the liver, said

the investigators, contending that BMI and alternate factors may play a

greater role in the formation of fatty liver in people infected with

nongenotype 3 hepatitis C.

Metabolic factors, particular those related to glucose metabolism, may ignite

fibrosis, they concluded.

The corresponding author for this study is , Storr Liver Unit,

Department of Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.

E-mail: <A

HREF= " mailto:mjacob-george@... " >jacob-george@...</A>

Key points reported in this study include:

* The pathogenesis of fatty liver is different in people infected with

hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 than in individuals with other HCV

genotypes

* Body mass index was a stronger influence on the formation of fatty liver in

patients without HCV genotype 3

* Metabolic factors associated with insulin activity may influence fibrosis

formation in patients with chronic hepatitis C

This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other

reports.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also genotypes 2 and 3 do a SHORTER course of treatment (6 months) with a HIGHER

reponse rate........ about 80% so it is a *better* genotype to have than a 1 or

4 :-)

Re: Hepatitisdoctor.com

Hello peace Pam. i sent e-mail to Dr. Cecil but he has not responded. today i

got my genotyping report which is HCV+ AND GENOTYPE IS 3a. what is this 3a. do

i need immediate interferon therapy. i hhave been told that 3a is patient

friendly. what does this mean? do you have any knowldge. please let me advise. i

shall be thankful. regards saleem Pakistan