Rosh Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2025 - Free Emergency Medicine Practice Questions and Study Guide

Elevated aminotransferases, namely AST and ALT, are key indicators of acute liver injury and help in diagnosing acute liver failure. In cases of acute liver failure, there is a rapid and significant increase in these enzymes due to hepatocyte necrosis, reflecting the liver's inability to function properly.

While elevated bilirubin levels can indicate liver dysfunction, they are more indicative of the liver's excretory ability rather than a direct sign of acute liver failure itself. A low platelet count might suggest various conditions, including hypersplenism or complications related to liver disease, but it does not specifically highlight acute liver failure. Decreased albumin can result from chronic liver disease or liver failure but is not an immediate marker of acute liver failure. Hence, elevated aminotransferases are the most specific and direct laboratory findings associated with acute liver injury, making this option the most relevant for identifying acute liver failure.