- Adult patients (up to 67 years old) are eligible for the study if they are positive for HCV RNA on testing with the polymerase chain reaction (quantitative test), or qualitative test positive if quantitative negative, have undergone a liver biopsy within one year before entry, available for analysis (vide infra) and whose results are consistent with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis with at least moderate inflammation, a fibrosis score of at least 2/6 according to Ishak et al (1995), and excluding complete cirrhosis. In terms of drinking, the men comprise "abstainers" (less than 12 drinks in the past year), those who drink lightly (1-13 drinks per month) or moderately (4-14 drinks per week) (Dufour, 1999). For women below the age of 50 years, these levels are reduced in half. A drink is defined as: 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (80 proof) (Nutrition and Your Health, 1990).