Which statement best explains the cause of jaundice in cirrhosis?

Which statement best explains the cause of jaundice in cirrhosis?

• A. The liver's ability to remove bilirubin is impaired due to alcohol-related damage.
• B. Jaundice is caused by dehydration.
• C. The yellow pigment is produced by RBC breakdown but is properly excreted.
• D. Jaundice results from kidney failure.

Answer: (A)

Jaundice in cirrhosis comes from the liver losing its ability to clear bilirubin because the damaged liver can’t properly uptake, conjugate, and excrete bilirubin into bile. Bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of red blood cells as unconjugated bilirubin. The liver normally takes it up, conjugates it (making it water-soluble), and excretes it into bile for elimination. In cirrhosis, scar tissue and disrupted liver architecture impair these steps, so bilirubin accumulates in the blood and tissues, causing the yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera. Alcohol-related damage is a common cause of cirrhosis, so this impaired bilirubin processing explains the jaundice. The other statements aren’t correct: dehydration doesn’t cause bilirubin buildup; bilirubin does come from RBC breakdown but in cirrhosis it isn’t properly excreted; and jaundice from kidney failure isn’t the primary mechanism in cirrhosis.

Jaundice in cirrhosis comes from the liver losing its ability to clear bilirubin because the damaged liver can’t properly uptake, conjugate, and excrete bilirubin into bile. Bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of red blood cells as unconjugated bilirubin. The liver normally takes it up, conjugates it (making it water-soluble), and excretes it into bile for elimination. In cirrhosis, scar tissue and disrupted liver architecture impair these steps, so bilirubin accumulates in the blood and tissues, causing the yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera.

Alcohol-related damage is a common cause of cirrhosis, so this impaired bilirubin processing explains the jaundice. The other statements aren’t correct: dehydration doesn’t cause bilirubin buildup; bilirubin does come from RBC breakdown but in cirrhosis it isn’t properly excreted; and jaundice from kidney failure isn’t the primary mechanism in cirrhosis.