Authors' reply to Foster and colleagues

We thank Foster and colleagues for their comments.1 2 Projections of disease progression that are based on natural history studies from tertiary referral centres may exaggerate hepatitis C virus (HCV) related morbidity and mortality. Inception cohort and epidemiological data suggest that only a minority of infected people will progress to end stage liver disease over their lifetime.1 Foster and colleagues repeatedly asserted that treatment is effective, but the cited evidence cannot show this.3 4 5 Van der Meer summarised …