Liver physiology and liver diseases in the elderly

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of liver diseases in patients

Liver diseases	Characteristics
Viral hepatitis
Hepatitis A	Higher hospitalization and mortality rates
Hepatitis B	More likely to progress to chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
Hepatitis C	More likely to progress fibrosis
	Higher rates of hepatocellular carcinoma development
	Decreased tolerability to treatment
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune hepatitis	Sometimes progressive
Primary biliary cirrhosis	Higher rates of treatment-related complications
	Sometimes progressive
	More likely to have osteoporosis
Alcoholic liver disease	Progressive
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease	Higher prevalence
	Progressive
Hepatocellular carcinoma	Higher rates of development