Question

a 24 - year - old female patient presents with hemolytic anemia. which of the following markers would most likely be elevated in her urine?
a) conjugated bilirubin
b) unconjugated bilirubin
c) glucose
d) red blood cells

Explanation:

In hemolytic anemia, there is increased breakdown of red blood cells. Unconjugated bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of heme in red blood cells. However, it is not excreted in urine as it is bound to albumin in the blood. Glucose in urine is associated with diabetes (when blood glucose is too high for the renal threshold). Red blood cells in urine can be due to urinary tract bleeding (not directly from hemolytic anemia - unless there is intravascular hemolysis with hemoglobinuria but that's not the main marker here). Conjugated bilirubin is water - soluble. In hemolytic anemia, although the main initial bilirubin increase is unconjugated, the liver conjugates more bilirubin (as there is more substrate - heme from hemolysis) and conjugated bilirubin can be excreted in urine.

Answer:

A. Conjugated bilirubin