Hepatitis C virus survival curve analysis in naïve patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin. A randomized controlled trial for induction with high doses of peginterferon and predictability of sustained viral response from early virologic data.

Aim: To evaluate the significance of induction with high doses of pegylated interferon -2b (Peg-IFNalpha-2b) and the predictability of sustained virologic response (SVR) in naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: 188 consecutive naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in a randomised controlled clinical trial. Patients were randomised to receive either Peg-IFN -2b 3.