Mortality rate of PLE?

• A. 10%
• B. 50%
• C. 75%
• D. 25%

Answer: (B)

Protein-losing enteropathy means a lot of protein is lost into the gut, leading to low albumin, edema, malnutrition, and impaired immunity. Because the outcome depends so much on the underlying cause and how well it can be treated, the prognosis is often guarded. The mortality associated with PLE is relatively high, reflecting the indirect effects of severe hypoalbuminemia and the complications that can follow, such as infections and nutritional problems. In many clinical references and exam contexts, roughly half of patients with PLE have a serious enough course to result in mortality, making 50% the most representative figure among common options.

Understanding this helps you see why the answer is 50%: it captures the substantial risk inherent to PLE as a syndrome driven by serious, underlying diseases, rather than a low-risk complication. If the underlying issue is something treatable and managed effectively, outcomes can improve; if it’s a condition with poor response to therapy, the risk remains high. The other numbers underestimate or overstate the risk relative to the typical clinical data you’re being tested on.