Final answer:
A decreased serum branched-chain amino acids and increased serum aromatic amino acids is associated with hepatic encephalopathy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A decreased serum branched-chain amino acids and increased serum aromatic amino acids is associated with hepatic encephalopathy (c). Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric abnormality that occurs in the setting of liver failure, whether chronic or acute. The increased levels of aromatic amino acids, such as phenylalanine and tryptophan, and decreased levels of branched-chain amino acids, such as leucine, isoleucine, and valine, are thought to contribute to the development of hepatic encephalopathy. For example, in liver failure, there is impaired ammonia detoxification, leading to increased levels of ammonia in the blood. Aromatic amino acids are preferentially metabolized in the liver, and their metabolism is disrupted in liver failure, resulting in their accumulation. These accumulated aromatic amino acids can cross the blood-brain barrier and interfere with brain function, contributing to the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy.