Harvoni after 8 weeks, Virus still detected any thoughts?

[ma snart]

Helen just got her 8 week labs and viral load test results, shows 22 in the viral load,
Doctor doesn't think its a problem, says that why he has her on 24 week program.
She did have a ruptured appendix 3 weeks back that may have caused her body not to fight as well as it should have been, almost healed from the surgery now.
All of the other results were fantastic, she is making blood platelets like never before and ALT 11 AST 24.
I have tried to find if patients with cirrhosis have more difficulty ridding their bodies of virus or if the virus is more resistant in this case?
Any thought would be appreciated.
Snart.

[Cecil Michael]

I seem to recall that one of drugs in Harvoni is a prodrug meaning it has to be metabolized by the liver into its active form. That made me wonder if that is the reason for longer treatment duration in cirrhotics compared to non, i.e. decrease in the livers ability to metabolize the drug. She will probably clear the virus by week 12 and then have another 12 weeks to get her to a cure.

 I was undetected at week 2 on Harvoni, but I was treatment naive with grade 1 fibrosis. I finished 8 weeks on 1/15/2015 and waiting for labs results this week.

Mike

[Mike]

Hi Ma Snart,

Research consistently demonstrates that those with cirrhosis have more difficulty clearing the virus when compared to those who don't have significant liver disease.

This is why treatment duration is longer if cirrhosis is present.

A viral load of 22 at 8 weeks would not be a concern for a cirrhotic patient, as there is 16 more weeks of treatment left to stomp, punch and kick the crap out of these stragglers!

Best wishes, Mike

[ma snart]

Thanks Mike, I was just concerned as almost everyone else had got to UD by week 4, I think the small number is great, just wishful I guess.

[Lynn K]

The only thing that is important is that she had a significant drop in viral load so it shows that it is working. I am willing to bet she is undetectable on her next test

Good luck to you both

[Mott the Hoop]

Howdy Snart , my results came back after almost 4 weeks & I was at 22 also . Better than millions , that's for sure ! Waiting on next results after missing 3 days , hopeful I'm still responding well . Time flies , I keep your wife & everyone fighting this disease in my prayers everyday . Mott the Hoop 

[ma snart]

Thanks for the prayers Mott, today is the apex of treatment for Helen as she now is on month 4 of 6 treatment, we go for labs later today, at week 10 she finally was undetectable. Will see how week 12 looks later this week.
Snart

[Islandgirl]

You guys are all in my prayers too.  We gotta keep on fighting...  Hugs and hope  ...Islandgirl