1.   Histological examination before treatment showed that all the patients had chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis.

2.   Indeed, chronic hepatitis C accounts for many adults referred for liver transplantation.

3.   Other possible explanations are that interferon alfa is directly toxic to hepatocytes and that it induces autoimmune chronic active hepatitis.

4.   Over half the patients who acquire acute hepatitis C virus infection develop chronic hepatitis.

5.   Patients with chronic hepatitis C should be counselled in the light of our current understanding.