- Previous IFN-alpha therapy; other liver diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, schistosomiasis, autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, drug induced hepatitis, or decompensated liver disease; coinfection with schistosomiasis or human immunodeficiency virus; neutro¬penia (,1 500/mm3); thrombocytopenia (,90 000/mm3); creatinine concentration .1.5 times the upper limit of normal; serum a fetoprotein concentration .25 ng/ml; organ transplant; neoplastic disease; severe cardiac or pulmonary disease; unstable thyroid dysfunction; psychiatric disorder; current pregnancy or breast feeding; or therapy with immunomodulatory agents within the last six months.