Hi my mother has been in hospice care for 1 year, she has COPD, CHF stage 4 and has had some kidney failure.  In the past few days she has begun itching at times.  Her fluid build up is a problem and she is still mobile.  I was wondering if there is a \"time line\" since the itching has begun because everything I have read is this is the \"dying process\" has begun.  In the past year she has rallied back 6 times but for the past several months they have told us there is nothing else they can do except to keep her comfortable, which they are doing a great job of doing.  Thank you
Dear patient, what matter in your case is HCV RNA, since if it is positive is a mathematical proof of HCV infection. People who are healed by HCV virus still have antibodies (thus a positive ELISA) but negative RNA. Thus, I would recommend doing HAVANA test. Moreover, remember that in many countries public health system is providing for free the treatment for HCV to renal transplant recipients. The final treatment depends on various variables, included viral genotype and degree of renal failure. Thus, make sure you are infected or not, and then we will talk about treatment. Meanwhile, if this is a new finding, a full hepatic screening is recommended. Take care,