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

Inclusion Criteria: * Evidence of chronic hepatitis C infection (viremia) by RT-PCR superquantitative * HCV Genotype 1 * Liver biopsy within 36 months of enrollment consistent with chronic hepatitis * Compensated liver disease with laboratory parameters at entry visit as follows: * Hemoglobin values of \> 12 gm/dL * WBC \> 2,500/mm3 * Neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm3 * Platelets \> 100,000/mm3 * Prothrombin time \< 2 seconds prolonged compared to control, or equivalent INR ratio * Bilirubin within 20% of the upper limit of normal unless non-hepatitis related factors exists such as Gilbert's syndrome. * Albumin \> 3.0 g/dL * Serum creatinine \< 1.4 mg/dL * Normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) or thyroid disease clinically controlled * Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)\< 1:160 * FBS \< 126 mg/dl * No significant co-existing psychiatric disease * Free from substance abuse for past 2 years 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.