Absolute contraindications to interferon therapy include: pregnancy, history of psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression), uncontrolled epilepsy, uncontrolled alcohol/drug abuse, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, decompensated cirrhosis, and symptomatic heart disease. Du Lei, Ai Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Relative contraindications to interferon therapy include thyroid disease, retinopathy, psoriasis, previous history of depression, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pre-treatment neutrophil count <1.0 × 109/L and/or platelet count <50 × 109/L, total bilirubin >51 μmol/L (especially indirect bilirubin predominant in particular, indirect bilirubin).