*Statistical Analysis*

Results were expressed as mean (SD) or number (percentage). A *p* value less than 0.05 was considered significant. The significance of differences was calculated by the χ2 or Fisher exact tests for nominal variables and by the Mann–Whitney test and the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance for continuous variables. Univariable comparisons were calculated using the GraphPad Prism 5.1 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). The general logistic regression model was performed with SVR as the dependent variable. Among independent variables tested for the best model were age, sex, response to previous therapy, anamnesis of hepatic decompensation, baseline ascites, serum bilirubin, albumin, platelets, and HCV RNA. Logistic regression models were calculated by use of Statistica 13.0 (TIBCO Software Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA).
