Abstract: Objective To observe the efficacy of individualized treatment strategy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods A total of 179 patients with chronic hepatitis C were recruited in this study. 65 received pegylated interferon α-2a （PegIFN α） and ribavirin，and 114 received IFN α-1b. All patients were treated for 48 weeks and followed-up for 24 weeks. According to the patient's age，body weight，serum HCV load and HCV genotype，the dose of interferon was modulated. Results At the end of follow-up，rates of rapid virologic response （RVR），early virologic response（EVR） and sustained virologic response in 65 patients receiving pegIFN α were 47.7%，92.3%，93.8%，much higher than those in IFN α-1b-treated patients （58.8%，76.3%，80.7%， respectively，P<0.05）；the RVR，EVR and SVR in 43 patients receiving normal doses of pegIFN α-2 were 46.5%，97.7% and 100.0%，without significant difference as compared to 50.0%，81.8% and 81.8% in 22 patients with decreased dose of pegIFN α-2（P>0.05）；the RVR，EVR and SVR in 69 patients receiving normal dose of IFN α1b were 60.9%，76.8% and 82.6%，without significant difference compared to 55.6%，75.6% and 77.8% in 45 patients receiving decreased dose of IFN α1b（P>0.05）；the RVR，EVR and SVR in 14 patients with low viral load receiving pegIFN α-2a were 64.3%，85.7% and 85.7%，without significant difference compared to 43.1%，94.1% and 96.1% in 51 patients with high viral load（P>0.05）；the RVR，EVR and SVR in 24 patients with low viral load receiving IFN α1b were 54.2%，66.7% and 70.8%，without significant difference compared to 60.0%，78.9% and 81.1% in 90 patients with high viral load（P>0.05）；the RVR，EVR and SVR in 41 patients with hepatitis C viral genotype 1 infection receiving pegIFN α-2a were 31.7%，97.6% and 97.6%，significantly different with 75.0%，87.5% and 87.5% in 24 patients with non-genotype 1 infection（P<0.05）；the RVR，EVR and SVR in 81 patients with genotype 1 infection receiving IFN α1b were 46.9%，82.7% and 87.6%，significantly different with 66.7%（P<0.05），75.7%（P>0.05） and 78.8% （P>0.05） in 33 with non-genotype 1 infection. Conclusion According to baseline characteristics，tolerability and HCV genotype，the standardized antiviral regimen should be optimized， which might get a higher virologic response and improve the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Key words: Hepatitis C, Pegylated interferon α-2a, Ribavirin, Viral load, Genotype