Effectiveness and Side Effects of Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a (Pegaferon®) Plus Ribavirin in the Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

Inclusion Criteria: * HCV RNA: Positive * Biopsy approved in genotype 1 * Age older than 18 yrs Exclusion Criteria: * ongoing pregnancy or breast feeding * Hx of hemochromatosis * Hx of metabolic liver dis. * Hx of HCC * Hx of autoimmune hepatitis * Hx of alcoholic liver dis. * Hx of bleeding from esophageal varices * ongoing systemic anti-viral or anti-neoplasmic treatment * Hx of treatment with an anti-depressant medication at therapeutic doses for at least 3 months at any pervious time * Hx of treatment with an tranquilizer at therapeutic doses for psychosis for at least 3 months at any pervious time * Hx of hospitalization for psychiatric dis. * Hx of suicidal attempt * Hx of IBD * Hx of SLE * Hx of scleroderma * Hx of rheumatoid arthritis * Hx of ITP * Hx of autoimmune hemolytic anemia * Hx of severe psoriasis * Hx of chronic pulmonary dis. associated with functional limitation * Hx of MI or unstable angina * Hx of arrhythmia requiring ongoing treatment * Hx of functional class III or IV * Hx of severe seizure dis. or current anti-convulsant use * Hx of organ transplantation with existing functional graft * Hx of severe retinopathy * Hx of Thalassemia * Hx of spherocytosis * Hx of cerebrovascular dis.