Table 1.
Group | ||
---|---|---|
Variable | Ribavirin + IFN-α | IFN-α |
N° of patients | 16 | 9 |
Mean age (years) | 50 | 57 |
Sex (M/F) | 8/8 | 5/4 |
Genotype (no. of patients) | ||
1b | 12 | 7 |
not 1b | 4 | 2 |
ALT (mU/ml) | 127 ± 88 | 142 ± 74 |
HCV RNA levels (copies/ml × 103) | 796 ± 674 | 897 ± 741 |
Years from the first diagnosis of | 5·4 | 6·6 |
HCV-related liver disease | ||
Histological grading (no. of patients)* | ||
1–7 | 9 | 4 |
8–15 | 7 | 5 |
Histological staging (no. of patients) | ||
1 | 2 | 1 |
2 | 4 | 3 |
3 | 8 | 3 |
4 | 0 | 1 |
5 | 2 | 1 |
Note. Data are expressed as mean ± SD ALT, alanine aminotransferase (normal range < 40 mU/ml).