October 2003
October 15 -- Support Group Members Interact

Room 220
We will share our concerns, strengths and ideas

Upcoming Agendas:
Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Theme Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 announcements
6:45 - 8:45 (or earlier) group members interact 'til we adjourn

November 19 -- Clsrm 3 & 4 -- To be Announced
Next Quarterly Business Meeting of I Will Survive:

5:30 p.m., Nov. 19, 2003 Classrooms 3 & 4
All are encouraged to attend (1 hr. prior to regular meeting) and to consider becoming involved in helping with support group chores
More News
Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesdays of every month; at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center, aka: Buhler Bldg) classroom 3&4 or Room 220; 2800 L St (@ 28th & L: kitty corner across from the 2-story parking & across L St. from Sutter Hospital)
Contact Us: Phone number: (916) 444-6996
Our Web Site> www.sacmall.net/transplant/hepc.html
Email: dck@innercite.com (include "I Will Survive" in subject line or your message might be delected before being read).
*New readers of this newsletter, see the following.
If you want to be included on our mailing/emailing list and you can afford to include a donation, make it to "I Will Survive, The Effort", P.O. Bx 2180, Loomis, CA 95650 for:
$24 if you want the Newsletter by U.S. mail
$15 if you get the Newsletter from the website (if you wish, each month we'll email a link to you)
$ 0 if, right now, you can't afford to pay dues. In which case "I Will Survive" will mail monthly Newsletters to you. Please contribute to the "Donations" Box at the meetings as you are able.

From the October 2003 HCV Advocate:
...Viral load tests are blood tests that measure HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA, or genetic material). The detection of HCV RNA indicates that the virus is actively replicating (reproducing and infecting new cells). Results were previously measured in number of copies, but are now typically reported in terms of International Units per milliliter (IU/mL).
...There are two categories of HCV viral load tests: Qualitative viral load tests determine the presence of HCV RNA in the blood so this type of test is usually used to confirm chronic infection with HCV.
Quantitative viral load tests measure the amount of virus in one milliliter of blood and are often used to assess whether treatment with interferon or interferon plus ribavirin is likely to be successful and, later, if treatment is working.
...There are currently three tests commonly used for HCV viral load testing: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can measure as few as 50 IU/mL. Branched-chain DNA (bDNA) quantitative viral load testing is easier (and cheaper) to use for a large number of samples, but only measures viral loads greater than 500 IU/mL. Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) allows for the detection of nucleic acids (components of genetic material) in the blood and is sensitive to 5-10 IU/mL. This newer test appears easier and cheaper to use, streamlining test processing and producing consistent, reliable, and more rapid results.
...If no HCV RNA is found by a test, a person's viral load is said to be undetectable. Importantly, the blood of an individual with a very low viral load may still contain HCV even though the current tests cannot measure it; that is, the virus may not have been truly eradicated from the body. Viral load test results can vary depending on how a blood sample is handled and stored. Furthermore, results may vary from lab to lab. For this reason, most experts recommend that people should get their viral load testing done by the same laboratory each time, so that results are more comparable.
...Changes in viral load are sometimes expressed in terms of logs. A log change is a 10-fold increase or decrease. For example, a change from 1,000,000 IU/mL to 10,000 IU/mL is a 2-log decrease. A chart for converting copies/ml to IU/ml was included in the May 2003 IWS Newsletter and is currently posted at: http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/advocate1003.html
...Viral load test results are used to confirm active HCV infection and to predict and measure HCV treatment response before, during, and after therapy. Higher HCV viral loads may be associated with a greater risk of HCV transmission (especially from mothers to infants during pregnancy or birth). Viral load has not been correlated with the risk of sexual transmission nor with disease progression. The lower the pre-treatment viral load, the more likely it is that a person will respond to current HCV therapies. A treatment is said to produce a complete virological response if it reduces viral load to an undetectable level. If after 12 weeks of current antiviral treatment, a 2-log drop in viral load or elimination of detectable HCV has not been achieved, it is unlikely that HCV will be eliminated from that patient's body. Viral load testing is also used to be alert for viral breakthrough (increase in viral load thats occur after a virologic response).

If you have no money or insurance call:
Sacramento Clinical Trials
Schering's Commitment to Care 1-800-521-7157
Infergen's Safety Net Program 1-888-508-8088
Roche's Patient Assistance 1-800-443-6676
Dr. Gish, et al, call: Pacific Hepatology, (916) 443-0503
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Katherine Suggett (916) 734-8696



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