- viral loads & liver enzymes

March 25, 2003

Hi ,

Viral loads can flucuate wildly (as well as liver enzymes) based on

stress, diet and life in general.

I had 2 viral load tests prior to starting Peg/Riba treatment. In

June 2001 my viral load tested at 2,168,000, liver enzymes were AST -

579 and ALT - 1015. 8 months later (with no change in lifestyle,

diet, etc...) my viral load went down to 21,971 and my enzymes were

AST - 150, ALT - 256. After 2 weeks of treatment, both my AST and

ALT were in the teens and viral load was non detectable at 12 weeks.

I have a good friend that has never had a viral load higher than 7000

and has never had out of range liver enzymes, yet he's at grade 2,

stage 2. I have another friend that has had a viral load as high at

75 million, yet he's not yet cirrhotic.

It just goes to show you that it's different in everyone. And the

numbers don't mean much if there is no damage to the liver. You

obviously do have damage to your liver and it's something to track

for sure.

Try not to freak out too much over the numbers (yeah, I know - easy

to say, but a little harder to practice) and rather concentrate on

feeling better and putting forth positive energy toward your

treatment regimen.

I hope you feel better and can get on with your treatment soon.

Take good care,

Grace

> Well, I went to see the I.D. doc today. She is delaying the start

of treatment for another 2 and a half weeks. I have to go and get a

more recent CAT scan of my abdomin. I got some extremely shocking

news. My viral load jumped from 850,000 ten months ago to OVER 4

million as of 1 week ago. My liver enzymes actually dropped

slightly. They have never been very high. The highest so far was

145 and 131. And I have cirrhosis!!! I beginning to think this is a

sneaky little virus and that liver enzyme levels don't mean that

much. At least it sure appears to be the case here. Has anyone else

had a viral load that high? I was afraid before, but now I am

petrified

>

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