>Anyone know of any cases of progression while the viral load is
>considered negative?
It's not totally unheard of, but I suspect progression while SVR is rare.
There's not a lot of citable studies easily found, but there was this:
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2008/advocate0208.html#1
In this retrospective analysis, all 479 patients already had advanced fibrosis
or cirrhosis prior to initiating anti-viral therapy. Of that total, 142
achieved SVR. All patients were then followed for 5 years. Of the non-SVR
group (337 patients) 83 progressed to liver failure, HCC, and/or transplant.
Of the SVR group, only 4 patients progressed to one of those three outcomes (1
death, 3 HCC).
Considerations: the entire cohort was quite ill to begin with, and in the
synopsis referenced above there are no words concerning lifestyle (ie: drug
and/or alcohol abuse, etc) or co infection (with HIV, for example).
I would expect an even better result for folks who weren't already suffering
from such severe liver damage prior to treatment...
Cheers
/greyhackles
Waterspider - 09 May 2008 05:05 GMT
>>Anyone know of any cases of progression while the viral load is
>>considered negative?
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> /greyhackles
In most cases, SVR or not, while one is undergoing treatment the progression
of liver damage is stopped or even reversed.
greyhackles - 09 May 2008 06:51 GMT
>>>Anyone know of any cases of progression while the viral load is
>>>considered negative?
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>In most cases, SVR or not, while one is undergoing treatment the progression
>of liver damage is stopped or even reversed.
That may well be true, but I doubt that was the gist of the question...
Cheers
/greyhackles