Antiviral & Antifibrotic Liver Therapy in HCV + Drinkers and Non-Drinkers

The primary aim of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of a combined antiviral, antifibrotic and antioxidant treatment on the progression of liver disease in patients with hepatitis C who either abstain from alcohol or continue to drink. All subjects are given state-of-the-art antiviral treatment (pegylated interferon + ribavirin), supplemented with either placebo or polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC), a purified soybean extract consisting of 95-96% polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC) and which has both antifibrotic and antioxidant properties. Secondary aims are to verify whether moderate alcohol consumption interferes with the antiviral effect of pegylated interferon + ribavirin on HCV and to validate the reliability of various circulating markers as substitute for liver biopsies to indicate the stage of liver pathology and its propensity for progression.