Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
The participation of Dr. Renslow Sherer in this
Forum is made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant
from Abbott Laboratories.
|
|
 |
|
Phenotypic & Genotypic Testing Update
Jan 4, 2008
You were kind enough to answer my question on Dec. 15th about Phenotypic & Genotypic testing. The results came back today as the following;
Test Not Performed:
WE WERE UNABLE TO AMPIFY VIRAL RNA TO SEQUENCE THE PROTESE AND THE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE GENES. THE LIKELY REASONS FOR FAILURE ARE INSUFFIEIENT VIRUS OR AN INHIBITORY SUBSTANCE IN THE SAMPLE. CORRELATE RESULT WITH A RECENT VIRAL LOAD TEST.
I gave additional blood today. I am not a drinker and have never done any drugs including pot.
The cd4 was 313 & 17%, Vl of 61,000 on 11/6/2007.
My question is should I be concern about 100% resistance?
thank you and have a happy holiday.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Sherer
I don't have access to longitudinal information in these emails, so I don't have any of the information from your first submission.
Technical difficulties are common in new or complex medical tests, and a genotypic resistance test is both relatively new and complex. Failure to sequence the virus occurs occasionally, and signifies only the need to repeat the test. Clearly, if your viral load at the same time as the resistance test was 61,000, the inability to sequence the virus was not due to 'insufficient virus', as the report suggests, but rather to other reasons.
If this recent viral load was done at a time when you were taking your current regimen, it does represent virologic failure, and you should be concerned about resistance. Hence another resistance test and an alternative ART regimen are warranted.
You and your doctor should simply repeat the test, and then you can put the results in context with your recent treatment and response history.
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
