And they are generally segregated by genotype. It is not true that if you have had HCV for 10 years and are stage 1 you will never fibrose past that stage. That is a false statement. I have personal knowledge of many cases where this is not true. I would ask you to defend your position with studies or some scientific proof that make the unequivocal statement that someone with HCV won't progress any further than stage one in fibrosis if they haven't after 10 years.
Histological response is one reason to treat.
But, virological response, as stated by Dr. Thierry Poynard in an article you posted recently, is also still considered to be a goal of HCV treatment and the best ultimate outcome of treatment. There is some evidence that the virus does mutate at the very beginning of treatment, but more and more evidence is mounting that this is nothing more than the natural course of mutation in an RNA virus and has no significant impact on disease course. I would challenge you to defend your position with the name of 1 prominent hepatologist who says that histological response is the only goal of therapy. Again, I am not saying anything personal about your opinions. I am merely disagreeing with them and asking you to back up your opinions with some proof.