stages and genotypes?

[stillcasey]

I find myself drowning trying to find out about this. What are the stages and genotypes? What do they mean and how do you find out? How does the treatment differ? Thanks for any insight into this.

[willie g]

HI, I TOO WAS WONDERING ALL ABOUT THE SAME THING NOT TO LONG AGO.THIS FORUM IS GREAT AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PIECE THINGS TOGETHER FROM ALL THE STORIES AND COMMENTS AND I HIGHLY RECOMEND YOU GET LUCINDA PORTERS BOOKS. SHE IS THE MODERATOR AND TRUST ME FOR THE SMALL PURCHASE YOU WILL LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL AS SO MUCH MORE. I DOWNLOADED HER BOOKS FROM MY KINDLE WHICH MADE IT EASY BUT WHATEVER METHOD YOU USE TO GET BOOKS ,GO FOR IT. SHE HAS HAD TO GO THRU TREATMENT 3 TIMES! WHAT A STORY AND WHAT KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE OF US.THE REAL DEAL. GOOD LUCK AND SOON YOU WILL KNOW SO MUCH THAT SOMETIMES OVERWHELMS YOU, BUT DONT GET DISCOURAGED BECAUSE YOUR IN THE RIGHT PLACE.  WILLIE G

[Mike]

Hep-C virus has 6 genotype: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. These are called genotype groups. Within each group, there are known subgroups. For example, within the genotype 1 group, there is genotype 1a and 1b.  Here is a list of known genotype groups, with their identified subgroups:

Genotype 1a & 1b
Genotype 2a, 2b, 2c & 2d
Genotype 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e & 3f
Genotype 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i & 4j
Genotype 5a
Genotype 6a

This is important because individual genotype groups respond differently to antiviral drugs/treatment. This is true with genotype subgroups.

Simply put, what may be a very effective treatment for genotype 2a - may not be as effective on, let's say, genotype 4e.

Knowing your genotype helps the doctor identify the most effective treatment protocol for you. The presence and extent of liver damage is also a consideration in making treatment decisions, as is your tolerance of certain drugs used in treatment.

In addition, you may have noticed that not everyone is completing the same treatment protocol. Some are on a 12 week course; whilst others are on a 24 week course. Some folks are completing a 3-drug protocol; others are only completing a two drug protocol.

This is why genotype, extent of liver damage and other factors are so important: All treatment decisions are guided by these factors.

Best wishes, Mike

[willie g]

SEE , YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY BEING ADRESED[MY SPELLING STINKS]   YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!  THX MIKE GOOD JOB AND I LEARNED SOMETHING I DIDNT KNOW BEFORE OR I DIDNT GRASP.  WILLIE G

[lporterrn]

Stillcasey - If you are drowning trying to find info, then what I am about to say will make things worse - they just reclassified genotype info - there are now 7 genotypes and 67 subtypes. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4063340/

Here is a suggestion: ask your doc what your genotype is, or to run a genotype test, and then ask what treatment he/she recommends - then you only have to wade through the info that is pertinent to you. We can help with that.

[Mike]

Thanks for posting this, Lucinda.

I didn't realize there were so many subtypes, Mike