Carolyn, a 58-year-old female, came into your clinic with achief complaint of acute abdominal pain in the upper rightquadrant. Murphy’s sign was positive, marked jaundice was observed,and history revealed recent weight loss, fatigue, and increasedalcohol consumption due to a recent divorce. Carolyn denies IV druguse. Lab results show increased bilirubin, AST, ALT, and decreasedserum albumin. A rapid HIV test was negative. List 3 differentialdiagnoses and include your reasoning behind each. What is the bestdiagnosis? Explain how you came to this conclusion. Explain thepathophysiology of the following symptoms: increased bilirubin,fatigue, and weight loss.
