Final answer:
To assess the response to serum albumin therapy in biliary cirrhosis, a nurse should monitor serum albumin levels and other liver function tests included in a complete metabolic panel. An increase in serum albumin post-therapy indicates a positive response. Clinical signs and symptoms should be considered alongside lab results.
Step-by-step explanation:
To evaluate the response to therapy for a client with biliary cirrhosis receiving serum albumin therapy, a nurse should monitor a variety of laboratory tests. One of the key indicators of liver function is the serum albumin level. Since albumin levels decrease in hepatic disorders, an increase in serum albumin concentration post-therapy would suggest an improvement in the liver's synthetic function and a positive response to treatment.
Additional liver function tests (LFTs) that should be tracked include alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, serum total protein, and the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. These values are often included in a complete metabolic panel (CMP) and can provide more information about the liver's overall function. It is essential for the nurse to also consider the patient's clinical signs and symptoms in the context of these lab results to fully assess the response to serum albumin therapy in biliary cirrhosis.