Document Classification

Section Type: METHODS

Text: Fifty patients with chronic HCV genotype 2-3 were randomized consecutively into two groups : Treatment group [20 subjects, age 48 14 years, body mass index (BMI) 30 6, 65 % male], who received 180 g pegylated - interferon-2a plus oral ribavirin 800 mg/d (Peg/RBV), together with oral vitamin D3 (Vitamidyne D drops ; 2000 IU/d, 10 drops/d, normal serum level > 32 ng/mL) for 24 wk ; and control group (30 subjects, age 45 10 years, BMI 26 3, 60 % male), who received identical therapy without vitamin D. HCV RNA was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.