Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

Which condition is associated with acquired hepatocellular disease?

1. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia

2. Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia

3. Neonatal jaundice

4. Cushing's syndrome

The correct answer is: Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia

Acquired hepatocellular disease typically results in the liver's impaired ability to process and conjugate bilirubin, primarily leading to conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. In this condition, bilirubin that is ordinarily processed in the liver becomes elevated in the bloodstream due to liver dysfunction, which can stem from various factors such as viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, or other conditions that damage liver cells. Conjugated bilirubin is the form of bilirubin that has been processed by the liver, where it becomes water-soluble and can be excreted through bile. When there is liver injury, the conjugation pathway can be disrupted, resulting in an accumulation of conjugated bilirubin. This directly ties to the notion of acquired hepatocellular disease, highlighting the liver's critical role in bilirubin metabolism. In contrast, unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia is more often associated with conditions that affect the production or clearance of bilirubin before it reaches the liver, neonatal jaundice typically involves immature liver function in newborns rather than acquired liver disease, and Cushing's syndrome relates to adrenal function and steroid metabolism rather than liver function. Therefore, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is the manifestation that aligns with acquired hepatocellular disease due to