Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

What might occur if a drug is administered to a patient with liver disease?

1. Increased efficacy of the drug

2. Allergic reaction to the drug

3. Toxic blood levels of the drug

4. Delayed response to the drug

The correct answer is: Toxic blood levels of the drug

Administering a drug to a patient with liver disease can lead to toxic blood levels of the drug due to impaired drug metabolism and clearance. The liver plays a vital role in the biotransformation of many medications, converting them into metabolites that can be easily excreted from the body. In patients with liver dysfunction, this process can be significantly reduced, leading to an accumulation of the active drug in the bloodstream. This elevated concentration may result in increased pharmacological effects or adverse reactions, which can manifest as toxicity. The likelihood of increased efficacy is often contingent on the drug's actions and the underlying conditions being treated, rather than a direct result of liver dysfunction. An allergic reaction is unrelated to liver function; it is an immune system response and would occur regardless of the patient's liver health. A delayed response to the drug could happen in certain scenarios but is less directly associated with liver disease compared to the potential for toxicity, which is a more prominent concern in this context.