Influence of Marker of Insulin Resistance Upon Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Treatment Responses to PEG Intron and Rebetol Therapy

Exclusion Criteria

• •Previous treatment for HCV.
• •Evidence of being HIV positive.
• •Hypersensitivity to alpha interferon, Peg Intron or Rebetol.
• •Any other causes for chronic liver disease other than chronic hepatitis C besides obesity.
• •Hemoglobinopathies (e.g., Thalassemia) or any other cause of hemolytic anemia.
• •Evidence of advanced liver disease such as a history of or presence of ascites, bleeding varices, or hepatic encephalopathy.
• •Preexisting medical condition that could interfere with the patient's participation in the protocol including: CNS trauma or active seizure disorders requiring medication; diabetes mellitus; serious pulmonary disease; immunologically mediated diseases; gout attack within 12 months; or any medical condition requiring, or likely to require during the course of the study, chronic systemic administration of steroids.
• •Patients with evidence of ischemia on stress testing, an arrhythmia, cardiac failure, coronary surgery, uncontrolled hypertension, angina or a myocardial infarction within 12 months.
• •Patients with a history of organ transplantation will be excluded.
• •Patients taking insulin sensitizing drugs.