Treatment strategy: Peg-IFN??-2a 180microg/week for 48 weeks, Ribavirin at least 11 mg/kg/day for 48 weeks Main inclusion criteria: HCV RNA positive by PCR; METAVIR score : >A2 and >= F1 or >= A1 and > F2; ALAT over 1.5*N; no prior treatment with IFNalpha, PEG-IFNalpha and ribavirin Main exclusion criteria : Liver disease other than hepatitis C; advanced liver disease; negative HCV RNA.