OBJECTIVE： To observe the efficacy and safety of PEG-interferon α-2b combined with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C （CHC）. METHODS：29 patients with CHC were randomly divided into control group （9 cases） and observation group （20 cases）. Observation group was 40 μg PEG IFN α-2b for patients with more than 65 kg body mass and 50 μg for no less than 65 kg， once a week， subcutaneously+750 mg ribavirin for patients with more than 65 kg body mass， 900 mg for 65-84 kg and 1 050 mg for no less than 85 kg， orally， 3 times a day. Control group was given 3 millionunits of IFNα-2b， 3 times a week， subcutaneously+ribavirin （the same dosage with observation group）. All patients treated for 24weeks. End response rate （ETR）， hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid （HCV RNA） negative rate， alanine aminotransferase（ALT） normalization rate， HCV RNA positive rate and ALT rebounded rate after 48 weeks treatment， clinical efficacy [sustained response rate （SVR）， HCV RNA continued negative rate， ALT continued normalization rate）]， HCV genotype distribution and incidence of adverse reactions after 24 weeks follow-up in 2 groups were observed. RESULTS： There were no significant differences in the genotype distribution， ETR and HCV RNA negative rates， ALT normalization rate， HCV RNA positive rate， ALT rebounded rate after 48 weeks treatment， and SVR and HCV RNA continued negative rates， ALT continued normalization rate and incidence of adverse reactions after 24 weeks follow-up between 2 groups（P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： PEG INFα-2b has similar efficacy and safety with INFα-2b combined with ribavirin in the treatment of CHC.