fig3

Figure 3. The natural history of an hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Infection with HBV can result in an acute, self-clearing, or chronic HBV infection; the development of a chronic HBV infection positively correlates with younger age. A chronic infection usually follows a long-term course in which the virus replicates at high levels, followed by immune-mediated control of viral replication associated with liver inflammation. Seroconversion and maintenance of undetectable or low levels of viral replication are markers of a favorable prognosis, but long-term disease can lead to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. (See text for additional details)