possible hep c infection

[Worrylou]

I wonder if anyone can advise me please. My wonderful 76 year old mum was given a blood transfusion after the birth of me 48 years ago. Over the years her blood test has shown slightly elevated bilirubin but no further action was taken, I think we hoped it would be Gilbert’s syndrome. I know she knows about the risk of hep c but I think she is reluctant to get tested and I have mentioned it some years ago. She is well at the moment and no obvious signs of disease. If she is positive us there any benefit of treatment after such a long time? Will there be too much damage after such a long time? I’m sick with worry but not sure what to do. If she is aware if the risk would leave it to her to make a decision to be tested or am I neglecting her. My dad has cancer at the moment so I don’t want to give added anxiety.

[AyrshireK]

I would anticipate that IF she did have Hep C from that blood transfusion 48 years ago it would have manifested by now and not just in an elevation of bilirubin (which can occur for various reasons including in minor things like gall stones which most older ladies do end up with). Other blood results would likely have been out of range too - elevated inflammation markers etc.

It's Mum's choice whether she deems she needs the addtional stress.

Is she symptomatic of liver disease? If she were then yes some further testing might be appropriate but as you say she has enough on her plate just now.

In England there is NHS home testing available for Hep C and there are details on the BLT page on the condition.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

I know you are just trying to look out for your mum especially with dad being poorly too but Mum is an adult and free to make her own choices on this.

Katie

[MINTVCX]

1. She had to be inflected which is not that likely.

2. Even if she was infected with hep C she might have cured it.

3. Even if she was still infected not always it meant serious liver damage.

4. Probably some LFT would be elaveted now. Indeed with normal LFT elevated bilirubin usually means Gilbert’s syndrome (prevalence about 5-12% in general population).

To many if to be really worry but of course to be 100% sure test is needed (also hep B might be worthy to check). However I think not needed in this case.

[bantam12]

My late husband was infected with HepC from the blood scandal transfusions, he had no symptoms and it was only discovered on a random blood test many years later. He did receive treatment and it was pretty brutal and caused other health problems afterwards, he may have been better not knowing or being treated.

[Swens651]

I'd say no serious damage at all. Ive seen serious damage, and if what you describe is tru, she's just fine...

[Ruby1960]

hi

I would urge her to get tested. I too had a transfusion following childbirth. It was only found by chance after years of raised blood levels. Even though I had no symptoms my liver was damaged. I am now clear of the virus since having treatment. It was 37 years after the transfusion.

[Worrylou in reply to Ruby1960]

thanks Ruby1960 Can I ask how you are now? Is your liver very damaged?

[Ruby1960 in reply to Worrylou]

Yes. I have cirrhosis unfortunately. Got the virus from a blood transfusion in 1986 but didn’t find out until 2020.

[NieceByMarriage]

I have been recently diagnosed. No idea where it came from as no obvious cause. Probably an unfortunate healthcare or dental treatment in the 70s or 80s. Luckily I got some vague symptoms that I followed up before my liver got too damaged. I am on anti viral tablets now. They are fine to take. NHS is keen to eradicate hep c so it is easy to test. Drugs cost a bomb and they may not always be as keen to prescribe. I’d say it is well worth getting tested. You can have quite bad liver damage without it showing up on bloods. She may be reluctant because the old peg interferon injections were brutal. But the tablets now are very benign.

[Worrylou]

thanks NieceByMarriage can I ask what your vague symptoms were? Are you ok now?

[NieceByMarriage in reply to Worrylou]

I had bloating, nausea and fatigue starting June last year. Also random pains in my right flank. Developed a huge distaste for alcohol. None of these symptoms could be linked to anything in particular. I had already kept a food diary for years for other reasons and knew it would not be intolerances. My liver enzymes have been somewhat raised for 4 years. Possibly longer but only started testing 4 years ago. Nobody was worried about them except me. Gallstones discovered and gallbladder removed two years ago after which they expected liver enzymes to go down but they did not. When the nausea and fatigue started I insisted on further investigations and am lucky to have private cover via work or I would not have got this. Even then they did several ultrasounds and MRIs and an endoscopy before finally sending me to a liver specialist who tested for Hep C simply to rule it out. I have never had a transfusion or tattoo or taken IV drugs. But I did have surgery and quite a few dental procedures in the 70s and 80s, some abroad in Europe, so I think I was just unlucky enough to get it from there. The more you read the more you discover how easily it can spread by medical procedures, even after 1989 when it was separately classified. Even as late as the 2000s people were getting infected in France and Spain via the contrast injection drivers in CT scanners! I've been on the antivirals for a couple of weeks now and they are not causing me problems. If there is any suspicion of Hep C I think it is really worth taking the blood test to rule it out or get treatment.

[Deejay1952]

There is a very effective treatment for hepatitis C available now. Even after all this time it can still be treated if she tests positive.