Which laboratory value may be elevated on the liver function panel of patients who are alcohol abusers?

In patients who are alcohol abusers, serum GGT (gamma glutamyl transaminase) is often elevated on the liver function panel, making this the correct choice. GGT is an enzyme that is particularly sensitive to alcohol consumption and liver dysfunction. It is often used as a marker for alcohol use and can indicate liver damage or biliary obstruction.

Elevated levels of GGT can suggest chronic alcohol use because this enzyme often increases in response to the liver's exposure to alcohol and its metabolites. An elevation in GGT can also serve as a distinguishing factor in differentiating between different types of liver disease, as it tends to rise more significantly in cases of alcoholic liver disease compared to other types of hepatocellular injury.

While serum ALT (alanine aminotransferase) could be elevated in liver conditions, it is more specific to liver cell injury rather than directly indicating alcohol use. Serum bilirubin may increase due to liver function impairment but is not as specific for alcohol use as GGT is. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels primarily reflect kidney function and not liver function directly, making it less relevant in the context of alcohol abuse and liver function testing.