A nurse is caring for a client who has liver cirrhosis with ascites and bleeding esophageal varices. Which of the following laboratory findings indicates that the client's gastrointestinal (GI) tract is digesting and absorbing blood?

A. Elevated HbA1c: HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over months and is not affected acutely by GI bleeding. B. Decreased chloride: Chloride changes are nonspecific and not an indicator that the GI tract is digesting blood. C. Decreased bilirubin: Bilirubin is a liver function marker; a decrease would not indicate digestion/absorption of blood. D. Elevated BUN: Digestion and absorption of blood proteins in the GI tract increase protein load and hepatic/renal processing, often causing an acute rise in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - an elevated BUN in the setting of upper GI bleeding suggests that blood is being digested/absorbed.