OBJECTIVE	The aims of this study were ( a ) to evaluate the sustained virological response ( SVR ) in noncirrhotic patients with genotype 2 or 3 , achieving an RVR , randomized to receive pegylated-interferon ( IFN ) -2 b plus ribavirin for either 16 or 24 weeks and ( b ) to carry out direct cost analysis comparing patients treated for 16 versus 24 weeks .\