The Individual Most Likely to Progress to Chronic Liver Disease

Question

The individual most likely to progress to chronic liver disease following an acute infection is
A) A 50-year-old who becomes HBsAg positive
B) A baby born to a chronically active infected HBV mother
C) A liver transplant patient infected with HCV
D) A recent immigrant who is HEV positive
E) A young adult coinfected with HBV and HDV

Accepted Answer

Progression to chronic disease is inversely related to the age of infection with HBV and 90% of neonates can become chronically ill. HCV infection progression is also high, but is 70% rather than 90%.