Angiotensin Receptor Blockade as an Anti-Fibrotic Intervention in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults, age 21 and older * Patients with viral hepatitis C that are not on interferon based therapy. * Detectable viral load * Baseline biopsy within six months or willing to undergo biopsy prior to drug initiation * At least grade 2 inflammation on biopsy, fibrosis of stage 1 or higher * Willing to undergo biopsy at the end of treatment * No interferon for at least 6 months prior to or after initial biopsy for study Exclusion Criteria: * Renal impairment defined by a serum creatinine of \>1.8 * Congestive heart failure * Hepatocellular cancer * Concurrent treatment with pentoxyfylline, steroids, interferon alpha or interferon gamma. * Active psychosis (affective disorders without loss of reality testing acceptable) * Active IV drug use * Prior liver transplant * Pregnancy * Decompensated cirrhosis as defined by the presence of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy or coagulopathy with an INR\>1.4 * HIV seropositivity * Hypotension defined by a baseline systolic blood pressure of less than 90mm of mercury * Contraindication to ARB use or allergy to medication * Treatment with potassium sparing diuretics