Definitions for new people

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Definitions for new people

ALT = Alanine aminotransferase; also called SGPT. One

of the liver

enzymes

that are commonly elevated in HCV.

Ascites = Accumulation of fluid in the spaces between

the organs inside

the

abdomen. A large amount will cause abdominal

distention.

AST = Aspartate aminotransferase; also called SGOT.

One of the liver

enzymes

that are commonly elevated in HCV.

Breakthrough = Return of detectable virus during

treatment after having

been

negative for virus at a previous point in treatment.

CBC = Complete blood count. Includes HGB, HCT, WBC,

and Platelets,

among

others.

Chemical (biochemical) response = Normal liver enzymes

during or after

treatment; may or may not be a sustained biochemical

response.

Combination therapy = Interferon (Intron-A) plus

ribavirin. Also called

" the

combo " or Rebatron.

Daily dosing = Taking interferon daily instead of 3

times a week. Not

currently " approved " by FDA recommendations, but may

be a more

effective

method of dosing.

Edema = An abnormal accumulation of fluid in body

tissue. Often occurs

in

the feet and ankles, resulting is swelling of those

areas.

End-of-treatment response = Absence of virus and

normal liver enzymes

at the

end of treatment; this may or may not result in a

sustained response.

Genotype = Subgroups of the virus; the common HCV

genotypes are 1a, 1b,

2a,

2b, 3, 4, and 6.

HCT = Hematocrit; a measure of the percentage of red

blood cells in a

volume

of blood. Normal for men is 45-52%; normal for women

is 37-48%.

HGB = Hemoglobin; HGB is contained in red blood cells

(RBCs) and

carries

oxygen to cells. Low levels are called anemia.

Ribavirin will cause a

decreased HGB in most people. Normal for men is 13-18

gm/dl; normal for

women is 12-16 gm/dl.

Histologic response = improved liver biopsy results

during or after

treatment.

Induction dosing = High initial daily doses, followed

by standard

dosing or

daily dosing with a lower dose.

Infergen = Interferon alphacon-1; a recombinant

interferon product made

by

Amgen.

Intron-A = Interferon alpha 2-b; a recombinant

(genetically engineered)

interferon product made by Schering.

Liver Profile = A group of tests that measure liver

function; may

include

AST and ALT, among others.

Monotherapy = Interferon only therapy.

Non-responder = A person whose HCV PCR did not become

" undetectable "

during

treatment.

PCR = Polymerase Chain Reaction. Also called RTPCR or

reverse

transcriptase

PCR. This is a test used to detect and/or measure

hepatitis C virus in

blood

or other body tissue. There are many PCRs which are

designed to detect

various different substances. However, an HCV PCR is

designed to detect

only

HCV.

PEG-Interferon = Interferon that has been modified to

make it

longer-lasting, thus requiring only once-weekly

injections. PEGASYS is

made

by Hoffmann-LaRoche and PEG-INTRON is made by

Schering-Plough.

PEG-INTRON

has recently been approved by the FDA. PEGASYS is

expected to be

approved

later this year, but is available in some clinical

trials.

Qualitative HCV PCR = A test to measure the presence

of HCV in blood.

Reported as either positive or negative.

Quantitative HCV RNA = A test to measure the amount of

HCV in blood.

Reported as a number or as " undetected. " This is how

viral load is

measured.

Relapse = Return of detectable virus after a period

during which the

virus

was undetectable.

Ribavirin = An antiviral drug often used in

combination with

interferon.

Acts as a " helper " to boost the effectiveness of

interferon.

Standard therapy = Interferon 3MU, 3 times a week.

Sustained response (to treatment) = Absence of virus

and normal liver

enzymes (ALT, AST) 6 months after the end of

treatment.

Varices = an abnormally dilated and lengthened blood

vessel. Because of

distention, the walls of these vessels are thin and

prone to rupture.

Called

esophageal varices when they occur in the esophagus.

Are common in

advanced

liver disease. (When they occur around the anus they

are called

hemorrhoids!)

Viral clearance = Disappearance of virus from the

blood. May be

temporary

or long-lasting.

Viral load = The amount of virus (virions) per

milliliter of blood.

Also

sometimes called " viral titre " or viral count.

Virologic response = Undetectable or negative viral

load during or

after

treatment; may or may not be a sustained response.

WBC = White blood count. Interferon tends to cause low

WBCs in some

people.

A low WBC can make one prone to infections.

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