PegIFN Alfa-2a and RBV for 16 or 24 Weeks in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C(CHC) 2 With Rapid Virologic Response(RVR)

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Co-infection with hepatitis B and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• •2. History or other evidence of a medical condition associated with chronic liver disease other than HCV (e.g., hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, toxin exposures)
• •3. Decompensated liver disease (Child-Pugh class B or C)
• •4. Neoplastic disease within 5 years
• •5. Evidence of drug abuse (including excessive alcohol consumption) within one year of study entry
• •6. Women with ongoing pregnancy or breast feeding
• •7. Hgb \< 11 g/dL in women or \< 12 g/dL in men at screening
• •8. Neutrophil count \< 1500 cells/mm3 or platelet count \< 90,000 cells/mm3 at screening
• •9. Serum creatinine level \> 1.5 times the upper limit of normal at screening
• •10. Serum alpha-fetoprotein \> 100 ng/mL
• •11. History of severe psychiatric disease, especially depression. Severe psychiatric disease is defined as treatment with an antidepressant medication or a major tranquilizer at therapeutic doses for major depression or psychosis, respectively, for at least 3 months at any previous time or any history of the following: a suicidal attempt, hospitalization for psychiatric disease, or a period of disability due to a psychiatric disease
• •12. History of immunologically mediated disease, chronic pulmonary disease associated with functional limitation, severe cardiac disease, major organ transplantation or other evidence of severe illness, malignancy, or any other conditions which would make the patient, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the study
• •13. History or other evidence of bleeding from esophageal varices or other conditions consistent with decompensated liver disease
• •14. History of a severe seizure disorder or current anticonvulsant use
• •15. Evidence of severe retinopathy (e.g. CMV retinitis, macula degeneration)
• •16. Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent or abide by the requirements of the study