Post-marketing Surveillance Study of Ex-intravenous Drug Abusers With Chronic Hepatitis C Treated With PegIntron Plus Rebetol (P04408/MK-4031-261)

Inclusion criteria

• Treatment-naïve participants or relapsers to interferon monotherapy
• Participants with chronic hepatitis C infection
• At least 18 years of age
• Must meet the following laboratory criteria:

• Platelets >=100,000/mm^3
• Neutrophil count >=1,500/mm^3
• TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) within normal limits
• Hemoglobin >=12 g/dL (females); >=13 g/dL (males)
• Ex-intravenous drug abusers who are under stable substitution therapy
• Women of childbearing potential must practice adequate contraception and have a routine pregnancy test performed monthly during treatment and for 7 months post-treatment.
• Sexually-active participants must be practicing acceptable methods of contraception during the treatment and for 7 months post-treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Any contraindications specified in the SPC (Summary of Product Characteristics) and approved European labeling
• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any interferons or to any of the excipients
• Pregnant women
• Women who are breast-feeding
• Existence of or history of severe psychiatric condition, in particular severe depression, suicidal ideation or suicide attempt
• A history of severe pre-existing cardiac disease, including unstable or uncontrolled cardiac disease in the previous 6 months
• Severe debilitating medical conditions, including participants with chronic renal failure or creatinine clearance <50 mL/min
• Coinfection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
• Autoimmune hepatitis or history of autoimmune disease
• Severe hepatic dysfunction or decompensated cirrhosis of the liver
• Pre-existing thyroid disease unless it can be controlled with conventional therapy
• Epilepsy and/or compromised central nervous system function