Adverse events

Participants with a platelet count of \<75 giga (10\^9) cells per liter (Gi/L) initially received eltrombopag 25 milligrams (mg) once daily (QD) for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, if the platelet count was \<90 Gi/L, participants underwent dose escalation to 50 mg QD for 2 weeks. If platelet counts still remained \<90 Gi/L, further dose escalations to 75 mg QD (up to 2 weeks) and 100 mg QD (up to a maximum of 3 weeks) were allowed. Participants who achieved platelet counts \>=90 Gi/L during the OL Phase (maximum of up to 9 weeks) were eligible to enter the Double-blind (DB) Antiviral Treatment Phase, whereas those who failed to reach platelet counts \>=90 Gi/L were discontinued from eltrombopag and had to attend the post-treatment follow-up visits.

Participants completing the OL Phase were administered matching placebo tablets QD in combination with antiviral therapy (peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin) for a duration of either 24 or 48 weeks (for participants with Genotype 2/3) or 48 weeks (for participants with Non-Genotype 2/3).

Participants completing the OL Phase continued on the same dose of eltrombopag received in the OL Phase (dose that effectively raised platelets to \>=90 Gi/L) in combination with antiviral therapy (peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin) for a duration of either 24 or 48 weeks (for participants with Genotype 2/3) or 48 weeks (for participants with Non-Genotype 2/3).