The primary criterion for success of therapy overall will be sustained loss of HCV RNA as assessed at 18 months. Primary criteria for response among the patients who are randomized to receive ribavirin or placebo will be degree of histological improvement on liver biopsy. Secondary criteria will be normalization of ALT levels. This study will allow for therapy of all patients with chronic hepatitis C with the combination of alpha interferon and ribavirin and will allow for therapy of patients with resistant forms of chronic hepatitis C with ribavirin alone and will address whether monotherapy with ribavirin can sustain these improvements and whether the biochemical improvements reflect amelioration of the underlying liver disease as judged histologically.