Patients for whom treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin was unsuccessful represent a category of patients for whom there is currently no worthwhile therapeutic alternative.

Several studies have shown that there is a relation between plasma ribavirin concentrations and treatment response. Adequate ribavirin plasma concentrations, especially during the first 12 weeks of treatment, should be associated with a better chance of response to the treatment.

The strategy for this study will be to use a loading dose of ribavirin before beginning the treatment with peg-interferon, thereby allowing for optimal ribavirin concentrations to be reached, and possibly improving the effectiveness of the treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 years
• Chronic hepatitis C and failure of prior treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin (non-response: HCV-RNA decreased less than 2 logs after 3 months of treatment; relapse: HCV-RNA that becomes positive again after treatment is stopped
• Compensated hepatic disease (Child-Pugh ≤ 6)
• Provision by patient of his or her written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Females who are pregnant or lactating will be excluded
• Renal failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 50 ml/min)
• A contraindication to treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin (uncontrolled psychiatric illness, pregnancy/nursing/non-use of effective contraceptive method, uncontrolled epilepsy for at least 6 months, heart failure, unstable angina, hemoglobin < 120 g/L, neutrophils < 1,000/mm3, platelets < 50 x 109/L, or any other condition that, in the investigator's opinion, contraindicates use of the treatment)