Hepiaitis C

[Nite Owl]

My son just had pre-surgical blood work done and the liver functions showed some abnormalities. He had it done again two days later and it was still there. The doctor thinks he might have Hepatitis C because of blood transfusions done almost 20 yrs ago when he was being treated for leukemia (ALL)

From what I have read, through frantic googling, the incubation period is maybe up to six months. If he had this back in '86-87 and he had virtually no immune system at that time from all the chemo how could he have survived this? Why is it showing up now all of a sudden after all these years? I just spoke with the doctor and his only answer to that was well he must have survived it. He said it could be some other virus but thinks it is this. He has no symptoms and never has.

He goes for another more specific test tomorrow and the results may not be until early next week. Is anyone familiar with the course of this disease and know if this time span is a possibility?

[Avalux]

1. Has he has the serology test for hep C done yet?

That's the first step, for a definitive diagnosis. There are other forms of hepatitis and other reasons his liver enzymes may be elevated. If it is hepatitis C, your son may have a low level infection which would be asymptomatic and go unnoticed for years. Eventually there is progression to chronic stages of liver disease though.

Hepatitis C is highly infectious and is spread through blood contact. If it turns out your son has it, his physician will more than likely recommend treatment with interferon because without it the disease will progress. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.

[saskatoon]

3. eventually there is a progression?

That is not set in concrete. I had Hep.C 20 years ago and I am free of it as all tests show.
Always get a second opinion, some Dr's don't know what they are talking about.

[Avalux]

5. With low level infection -

stats show that over 80% of those infected will develop chronic liver disease, could take up to 20 years. There are a very small percentage of people who recover from ACUTE hepatitis C - sounds like you are one of those.

And I agree - always a good idea to get a secont opinion.

[Nite Owl]

7. I pm'd you

With all the blood work he has had this is the first time it has shown anything.


He has that test done tomorrow am. The doctor said it would take until probably early next week to get the results of this one.

[Alizaryn]

2. Kick

I hope you get an educated answer!

[endarkenment]

4. Discovered hepc infections are very common.

It has been characterized as the 'hidden epidemic'. You can be symptom free for decades. He should get himself to a liver specialist ASAP and get evaluated for treatment. The treatment sucks bigtime, but if he went through chemo for leukemia he can probably deal with the interferon regimen. Also the treatment is not guaranteed - for the most common type of hepc it is only effective in something like 50% of the cases, and if he is not currently suffering organ damage he might want to defer doing anything - that is a decision he should make in consultation with his health care providers and after he reads everything he can get his hands on so he knows what the risks and benefits are.

[Nite Owl]

6. His doctor mentioned

an appointment with a specialist after this test. I read about the treatment and it doesn't sound like fun. I don't know if I am in strong denial or if it just seems so illogical that he could have survived having it through the chemo. Thing is he's covered now on my insurance but only until he is out of college or turns 24 so any treatment like this would have to be done now, there might not be another chance to have it.

[endarkenment]

8. Go see the specialist.

Get as informed - both of you - as you can. Talk 'till you are blue in the face to everyone who knows anything about this. The interferon/ribaviron treatment is the only recommended treatment option. It sucks, its horrible, but it is do-able and it has a good shot at working.

[emulatorloo]

9. There's also Autoimmune Hepatitus - not viral. Also very treatable

It presents the same way as Hep C, as I understand it.

I'm no doctor, but I wonder if this is a possibility -- Please do see the specialist!

----

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/hepatitis_autoimmune.jsp

<snip>

Hepatitis, autoimmune


Definition

A form of liver inflammation in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells.

Description

Autoimmunity causes the body's defense mechanisms to turn against itself. Many of the tissues in the body can be the target of such an attack. While one tissue type predominates, others may be involved in a general misdirection of immune activity, perhaps because the specific target antigen is present in differing quantities in each of the affected tissues. There seem to be hereditary causes for autoimmunity, since these diseases tend to run in families and have genetic markers. Among the more common diseases believed to fall within this category are rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.

The process of autoimmune disease is very similar to infectious disease and allergy, so that great caution is observed in placing a disorder in this class. Germs were found to cause several diseases originally thought to be autoimmune. Allergens cause others. Many more may be uncovered. Autoimmunity is often believed to originate with a virus infection. A chemical in the virus resembles a body chemical so closely that the immune system attacks both.

Autoimmune hepatitis is similiar to viral hepatitis, a disease of the liver. It can be an acute disease that kills over a third of its victims within six months, it can persist for years, or it can return periodically. Some patients develop cirrhosis of the liver which, over time, causes the liver to cease functioning.

<snip>

Much More at link

[Cobalt Violet]

16. It takes a long time for the virus to do damage to the liver.

It never happens overnight. It just doesn't work that way.

[Autumn Colors]

10. Well, I have no medical training

... but I've done medical transcription for gastroenterology groups for about seven years now. I see stuff like this in reports all the time with people from the 80s having contracted Hep C through any number of ways (transfusions, tattoos, piercings, IV drug use, etc). And yes, it can have been in him that long and not been detected until now. They'll have to do serum blood tests and check the viral load.

I sensed a little panic in your post and I just want to say this: Don't.

There are a lot of drugs available now to treat this - if they opt for treatment. Sometimes they don't - depending on what genotype it is (some more difficult to treat than others), if it's been carried for such a long time, the patient has no symptoms, and if the viral load is low. They may just observe his liver function tests at regular intervals.

Also, liver function test abnormalities can be any number of things. Values can fluctuate just from someone having been tested after having the flu. Again, don't panic. Even if it's hepatitis, it really is treatable.

Have him see the specialist and get the testing done.

[Nite Owl]

11. Yes, there is definitely a

feeling of panic. He's so young, just 21, and it's hard having to imagine him going through yet something else. How disturbing will this be to his life, what will happen if he doesn't have healthcare, will he be able to have children of his own? I wish it could be me and not him, all I can do is be there for him but he is the one who has to bear this and it seems so unfair. I just hope it was all wrong and it turns out to be just a scare. Soon enough we will know.

[Autumn Colors]

14. Well

Once treated and the viral load falls to a certain level, a person is generally then considered cured - not just something that's in remission and has to be dealt with one's entire life. Maybe I wasn't clear on that part. The treatments usually last only a few months. So it would be good to have him do this now so it gets treated over the summer months.

[Cobalt Violet]

17. 6 to 12 months is the treatment time.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Here are a few sites you can investigate to get some info....

http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=8864

http://www.hepcprimer.com/

http://www.liversupport.com/

http://liverdisease.com/milkthistle_hepatitis.html

http://hepatitis-central.com/

http://www.healingwell.com/library/hepatitis/info4.asp

[Nite Owl]

13. Thanks BrklynLiberal

these sites look particularly good for a whole person treatment. Got them bookmarked.

[JackBeck]

15. I am a Hepatitis C and HIV treatment educator.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I do workshops on Hepatitis C on a regular basis.

[Cobalt Violet]

18. There are several DUers who have this virus.

There are more who have it and don't know it most likely. I have the hep C awareness ribbon in my signature line. I am very familiar with this disease.

It takes a long time for the virus to build up enough and for the damage to occur to the liver.

People become sick from the diseased liver. The time span is very possible.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

19. Our own immunity can be enhanced in order to help deal with

virus, bacteria and parasites. There are products that can boost the innate immune response and or correct autoimmune reactions.

NK cells and NKT cells in innate defense against viral infections.

Biron CA, Brossay L.

The Division of Biology and Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Box G-B6, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. [e-mail]

NK cells contribute to innate defense during certain viral infections, but the mechanisms for their regulation and delivery of antiviral effects are incompletely understood. A second NK cell population, from within T cell populations--NKT cells--has a unique potential to initiate cellular effector mechanisms, including those delivered by NK cells, provided that the antigen for their restricted TCR is induced during infection. If elicited, particular innate cytokine responses promote activation of NK cell cytotoxicity or IFN-gamma production. These responses can contribute to defense by mediating antiviral and/or immunoregulatory effects. Roles of positive or negative receptors for target cells in protection against viruses are less clear. Exciting new data indicate that, in at least one system, NK cell receptors that positively signal for activation participate in the recruitment of these cells into antiviral defense mechanisms. Other recent evidence suggests that NKT cells may be important for protection during one viral infection and may be artificially activated by delivery of antigen to promote antiviral defense. Taken together, these recent advances in the characterization of the NK and NKT cell responses are filling in the details of the complex and critical events taking place, at the earliest times after challenge, to promote resistance to viruses.

Publication Types:

* Review


PMID: 11498302