Table 1

Characteristics of randomised controlled trials and cohort studies

Trial	Proportion of patients with cirrhosis at baseline (%)	Antiviral therapy administered	Duration of treatment	Maximum duration of follow-up	Total number of patients
Randomised controlled trials
Azzaroli 200422	100	Interferon α plus ribavirin	1–2 years	5 years	101
Bernardinello 199623	100	Interferon	1 year	5 years	61
Bruix 201115	100	Pegylated interferon	5 years	5 years	626
Fartoux 200724	100	Interferon	2 years	2 years	102
Lok 201125	41	Pegylated interferon	3.5 years	8.7 years	1048
Nishiguchi 200126	100	Interferon	2 years	8.7 years	90
Soga 200527	0	Interferon	Unclear	5 years	133
Valla 199928	100	Interferon	1 year	4.8 years	99
Cohort studies
Bruno 199729	100	Interferon	0.5–1 year	7 years	163
Gramenzi 200130	100	Interferon	1 year	5.8 years	144
Mazzella31	100	Interferon	0.5–1 year	6.4 years	193
Serfaty 199832	100	Interferon	0.5–1.5 years	6 years	103
Shiratory 200533	100	Interferon	39 weeks*	5 years	345