A Quality of Life Study of Peginterferon-Alfa-2a Plus Ribavirin in Participants With Chronic Hepatitis C and Persistently Normal Alanine Transaminase (ALT) Levels

A Quality of Life Study of PEGASYS® (Peginterferon-Alfa2a) in Combination With COPEGUS® (Ribavirin) in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and Persistently Normal ALT Levels

Participants with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) and normal ALT, who have been under treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for at least 4 weeks, will be enrolled into this non-interventional, open-label study. The primary aim is to evaluate quality of life according to the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire, modified for the Greek population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Serological confirmation of chronic infection by anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) assay
• HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) positive
• CHC with normal transaminases
• Compensated liver disease
• Non-pregnant and willing to use two contraceptive methods (if fertile)
• At least 4 weeks of prior treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or lactating women
• Co-infection with hepatitis A or B, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• History of seizures or depression
• History of autoimmune disease, severe heart or lung disease, or renal failure with reduced creatinine clearance
• Uncontrolled thyroid disease
• Severe retinopathy
• Leukopenia or thrombocytopenia
• Bleeding esophageal varices or other evidence of hepatic decompensation