Purpose / DescriptionIn this investigators randomized 912 patients with chronic hepatitis C to receive standard-dose interferon alfa-2b alone or combined with ribavirin (weight-based) for either 24 or 48 weeks. Patients treated with interferon alfa-2b alone had SVR24 rates of 6% with 24 weeks of therapy and 13% with 48 weeks of therapy. Those treated with interferon and ribavirin had significantly higher SVR24 rates: 31% with 24 weeks of therapy and 38% with 48 weeks of therapy This trial demonstrated that treatment with interferon and ribavirin generates significantly higher SVR24 rates than with interferon alone, regardless of duration of therapy.