Purpose / DescriptionIn this trial, investigators examined the efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin, interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, or peginterferon alone in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C.  The ribavirin was given as weight based dosing. The end of treatment response was higher in the  peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin than the other two groups, but notably the sustained virologic response rate was markedly higher in patients who received peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin group than those who received peginterferon alone (56% versus 44%). In addition, the investigators demonstrated the 12 week HCV RNA response clearly predicted a subsequent sustained virologic response.  This trial established the benefit of adding ribavirin to peginterferon: patients receiving peginterferon plus ribavirin had lower virologic relapse rates after end of treatment and greater SVR24 rates than patients who received peginterferon alone.