By univariate analysis, liver fibrosis scores (p = 0.015), HCV viral load (p<0.001), age (p = 0.015) and ribavirin levels at the end of treatment (p = 0.036) differed significantly between relapsers and sustained responders, and relapses occurred significantly more often in treatment experienced patients (p<0.001), whereas HCV genotype, extended treatment duration, immunosuppression, IL28b genotype and ribavirin levels at week 4 or mean levels over the entire treatment duration showed no detectable effect. The gene discussed is IFNL3; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.