Tysabri and Hepatitus C

[sputnick]

Hi, New on the forum.
I was recently diagnosed with MS and am about to start Tysabri. I understand one of the side effects is elevated liver enzymes and jaundice.
I am currently Hepatitus C positive and have had triple therapy treatment last year, which was unsuccessfull. My liver is already suffering fibrosis, and liver enzymes above normal.
Has anyone any experience of this treatment for MS while already suffering HCV?
thanks

[NHE]

Hi, New on the forum.
I was recently diagnosed with MS and am about to start Tysabri. I understand one of the side effects is elevated liver enzymes and jaundice.
I am currently Hepatitus C positive and have had triple therapy treatment last year, which was unsuccessfull. My liver is already suffering fibrosis, and liver enzymes above normal.
Has anyone any experience of this treatment for MS while already suffering HCV?

Welcome to ThisIsMS. I can't answer your question, but I was wondering if you have ever looked into taking a milk thistle extract supplement. These contain an antioxidant complex called silymarin which has been found to be helpful for the liver. Here's a review paper published by medscape.com. There's also quite a bit that's been published on it available from PubMed.

NHE

[sputnick]

Hi, Thanks for the response.
I was taking Milk Thistle regularly, but had to stop, before I commenced the triple therapy treatment for the hepatitus. I will look into starting taking it again. My liver specialist is waiting to see what happens with the MS before looking at further liver treatment, but it seems all the MS treatments offered to me have negative effects on the liver. Not sure which is the lesser evil.
cheers

[cheerleader]

Hi Sputnik--
you should probably check out more published research on natalizumab and hepatitis and share the info with your liver doc before beginning Tysabri.
http://msj.sagepub.com/content/early/20 ... 8512463485
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10 ... aintenance
http://livertox.nih.gov/Natalizumab.htm

I looked into the connection of the liver and MS when my husband presented at his first flare with 10X higher than normal AST and ALT numbers. We used milk thistle to bring down the numbers, and changed his diet, to remove fatty meats and added more fruits and vegetables. His liver's been OK since. Turned out, he wasn't the only one who presented this way. Elevated liver enzymes, without any DMT usage, were found in many in the placebo end of a trial. http://mssociety.ca/en/releases/nr_20061101.htm
A new study is looking at the potential genetic connection to elevated liver enzymes and MS.
http://www.healthline.com/health-news/m ... ial-090413

Good luck to you---I hope you can find ways to regain your health,
cheer