Children and adolescents 3 to 16 years of age with compensated chronic hepatitis C and detectable HCV- RNA (assessed by a central laboratory using a research-based RT-PCR assay) were enrolled in two multicentre trials and received Viraferon 3 MIU/ m2 3 times a week plus ribavirin 15 mg/ kg per day for 1 year followed by 6 months follow-up after-treatment.