Final answer:
In hepatocellular disease, bilirubin and enzymes AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels tend to increase due to liver damage, while serum albumin typically decreases because of the liver's impaired ability to produce it.
Step-by-step explanation:
In hepatocellular disease, various enzymes have different behavior depending on the type and severity of the liver damage. Elevated levels of bilirubin indicate jaundice, which is often a symptom of liver disease. Bilirubin levels increase when the liver is unable to properly process and excrete it.
AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) are enzymes that are particularly important in liver function tests. Both AST and ALT can rise dramatically in acute liver damage, such as that caused by viral hepatitis or overdose of certain medications. These transaminases are present in liver cells and are released into the blood when the cells are damaged.
While Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) can be found in bone and placental tissue, its levels in plasma rise with large bile duct obstruction or diseases of the liver. However, serum albumin is an indicator of liver synthetic function and will generally decrease in chronic liver diseases due to the impaired production of albumin by damaged liver cells.