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Multiple Choice

In hepatic jaundice, which analyte is decreased?

Hepatic jaundice reflects reduced liver synthetic function. Albumin is a major protein produced by liver cells, so when the liver is not working well, albumin production falls and its level in the blood decreases. This decrease points to the liver’s impaired ability to make proteins, which is a hallmark of hepatic dysfunction. In contrast, enzymes such as ALT and LDH typically rise when liver cells are damaged, and urea production in the liver tends to fall—not rise—so it would not be the analyte that decreases in this context. Therefore, albumin is the analyte that decreases.

Hepatic jaundice reflects reduced liver synthetic function. Albumin is a major protein produced by liver cells, so when the liver is not working well, albumin production falls and its level in the blood decreases. This decrease points to the liver’s impaired ability to make proteins, which is a hallmark of hepatic dysfunction. In contrast, enzymes such as ALT and LDH typically rise when liver cells are damaged, and urea production in the liver tends to fall—not rise—so it would not be the analyte that decreases in this context. Therefore, albumin is the analyte that decreases.