An individual with advanced cirrhosis experiences reduced urea production. Which outcome primarily explains why hepatic encephalopathy risk rises as cirrhosis worsens?

💡 Explanation

Cirrhosis compromises the liver's ability to convert ammonia into urea, a less toxic substance, because the urea cycle detoxification capacity is diminished. Therefore, ammonia accumulates, crossing the blood-brain barrier and causing neurological dysfunction, rather than other metabolic functions being primary.

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