Final answer:
With hemolytic disease and defective liver cell function, urobilinogen levels would typically be increased due to excessive red blood cell breakdown and the liver's inability to process the resulting bilirubin effectively. The correct option is a) Increased
Step-by-step explanation:
In cases of hemolytic disease, there is excessive breakdown of red blood cells, resulting in increased production of bilirubin. As the liver attempts to process this excessive bilirubin, some of it is converted to urobilinogen. However, when there is defective liver cell function, such as in the case of damage due to alcoholism, toxic substances, or hepatitis, the liver may fail to effectively conjugate and excrete this bilirubin.
Under these circumstances, both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin levels are raised in the blood, leading to increased levels of urobilinogen in the urine. Therefore, with hemolytic disease and defective liver cell function, the levels of urobilinogen would typically be increased. The correct option is a) Increased