IFNA2 and hepatitis C virus infection: Hepatitis C is the cause of about half of cases of primary liver cancer in the developed world.1, 2 Hepatitis C virus infection is common in patients receiving long-term blood transfusion therapy.3 Patients with β-thalassemia major receive chronic blood transfusions and have an increased prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.4 The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection ranges from 25 to 75% in thalassemic patients.5 Treatment strategies have evolved from monotherapy with interferon alpha-2b to combination therapy with ribavirin.6