Reye's syndrome is characterized by a threefold increase in which markers?

• A. Ammonia, AST, and ALT
• B. Bilirubin, ALP, and GGT
• C. CK, LDH, and Troponin
• D. Urea, Creatinine, and Uric acid

Answer: (A)

Reye's syndrome involves acute liver failure with impaired detoxification of ammonia and hepatocellular injury. Because the liver cannot process ammonia efficiently, levels rise in the blood (hyperammonemia), and damaged liver cells release enzymes such as AST and ALT. Seeing a threefold increase in ammonia along with elevated AST and ALT reflects this acute hepatocellular dysfunction, which is the hallmark of the condition.

Other marker groups point to different problems: bilirubin, ALP, and GGT are more associated with cholestasis or biliary obstruction; CK, LDH, and troponin indicate muscle or heart injury; urea, creatinine, and uric acid relate to renal function and purine metabolism. Those patterns don’t fit the typical liver-focused derangements seen in Reye's syndrome.