A 23-year-old woman presents 24 hours after acetaminophen overdose with nausea, right upper quadrant pain, and jaundice. Vital signs: BP 110/68, HR 102, RR 16, Temp 37.2°C, SpO2 98%. Laboratory studies show AST 3,200 IU/L, ALT 2,800 IU/L, and INR 1.1. She denies abdominal trauma or recent viral illness. Which mechanism best explains the hepatocellular injury in this patient?

  1. A)Accumulation of a toxic metabolite that depletes glutathioneGABARITO
  2. B)Autoimmune destruction of bile ducts
  3. C)Direct infection of hepatocytes by an RNA virus
  4. D)Copper accumulation in hepatocytes and basal ganglia
  5. E)Iron deposition due to increased intestinal absorption

Explicação

Acetaminophen overdose produces excess NAPQI, a toxic metabolite normally detoxified by glutathione. When glutathione stores are depleted, NAPQI causes centrilobular hepatic necrosis; N-acetylcysteine works by replenishing glutathione. Ver explicação completa e trilha adaptativa →

Fazer o diagnóstico grátis de USMLE