Which enzyme is elevated in the blood after acetaminophen toxicity?

Which enzyme is elevated in the blood after acetaminophen toxicity?

• A. Ammonia
• B. Blood pH
• C. Alanine aminotransferase
• D. Calcium

Answer: (C)

Acetaminophen toxicity causes injury to liver cells, and when hepatocytes are damaged, enzymes stored inside them leak into the bloodstream. Alanine aminotransferase is a liver-specific enzyme, so its level rises most prominently with hepatocellular injury from acetaminophen overdose. This makes ALT the best indicator of this type of liver damage. Ammonia can be elevated in severe liver failure but is not an acute enzyme marker of toxicity; blood pH and calcium are not enzymes and don’t serve as primary indicators of acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

Acetaminophen toxicity causes injury to liver cells, and when hepatocytes are damaged, enzymes stored inside them leak into the bloodstream. Alanine aminotransferase is a liver-specific enzyme, so its level rises most prominently with hepatocellular injury from acetaminophen overdose. This makes ALT the best indicator of this type of liver damage. Ammonia can be elevated in severe liver failure but is not an acute enzyme marker of toxicity; blood pH and calcium are not enzymes and don’t serve as primary indicators of acetaminophen-induced liver injury.