Horsmans 2008.

Methods	Study design: multi‐centre, controlled randomised trial comparing three groups. ITT analysis: performed.
Participants	Country: Belgium. Total number (sample size): 258 (initially 336, but 78 had not commenced treatment). Age, years (STD) : 45, 46, and 45. Sex (male, number): 63, 62, and 36. Genotype: one, two, and three. Previous HCV treatment: naive. Inclusion criteria: chronic hepatitis C diagnosed by the following. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Presence of HCV RNA in serum. Exclusion criteria. Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Patients with other chronic liver disease (e.g., HBV). Patients coinfected with HIV. Active alcohol abuse and intravenous drug abuse. Patients with contraindication to RBV.
Interventions	Group 1 (n = 101). Drug: interferon alpha‐2b (daily) 4 MIU sc for participants > 65 kg or 0.06 MIU/kg ≤ 65 kg. Group 2 (n = 98). Drug:  peginterferon alpha‐2b 100 µg/wk for participants > 65 kg or 1.5 µg/kg/d for participants ≤ 65 kg. Group 3 (n = 59). Drug: IFN‐2b. Dosage: 3 MIU three times a week. Ribavirin. Dose: 1000 mg/d for participants weighing less than 75 kg or 1200 mg/d for participants weighing more than 75 kg.
Outcomes	End of treatment response; sustained virological response; adverse events.
Notes	Inconsistency in the figures across the study report is evident: total number (sample size): 258 (initially 336, but 78 had not commenced treatment).
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Comments: Method of sequence generation is not mentioned. Randomisation process is not well described.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Comments: The allocation concealment process is not mentioned.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	Coments: open‐label trial.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	Comment: 78 participants had not commenced treatment; it is not clear whether the trial adhered to the intention‐to‐treat analysis.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Comment: All clinically relevant and reasonably expected outcomes were reported.
Other bias	Unclear risk	All medication was provided by Schering‐Plough.