A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who is taking atorvastatin. Which of the following laboratory values indicates the treatment has been effective?
Urine specific gravity 1.020.
BUN 15 mg/dL.
LDL 120 mg/dL.
Blood glucose 90 mg/dL.
The Correct Answer is C
Atorvastatin is a medication that belongs to a group of drugs called statins. It is used to lower blood levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). The treatment has been effective if the LDL level is reduced, as high LDL levels can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. A normal range for LDL is less than 100 mg/dL.
Choice A is wrong because urine specific gravity is a measure of how concentrated the urine is, not how much cholesterol is in the blood. A normal range for urine specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.0304.
Choice B is wrong because BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is a measure of how well the kidneys are working, not how much cholesterol is in the blood. A normal range for BUN is 7 to 20 mg/dL.
Choice D is wrong because blood glucose is a measure of how much sugar is in the blood, not how much cholesterol is in the blood.
A normal range for blood glucose is 70 to 100 mg/dL.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Taking a high-ceiling diuretic predisposes this client to developing digoxin toxicity because it can cause hypokalemia (low blood potassium level), which increases the sensitivity of the heart to digoxin. Digoxin is a medicine that is used to treat heart failure or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) by increasing cardiac contractility and controlling the heart rate. Digoxin toxicity happens when there is too much digoxin in the body and it becomes harmful, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, vision disturbance, and irregular heartbeat.
Choice A is wrong because taking an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor (also called a statin) does not increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
Statins are lipid-lowering medications used to prevent coronary heart disease by blocking an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.
Statins do not affect the blood potassium level or the sensitivity of the heart to digoxin.
Choice B is wrong because having a 10-year history of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) does not increase the risk of digoxin toxicity. COPD is a lung condition that causes breathing difficulties and chronic inflammation.
COPD does not affect the blood potassium level or the sensitivity of the heart to digoxin.
Choice D is wrong because having a prolapsed mitral valve does not increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
A prolapsed mitral valve is a condition where the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart does not close properly, allowing some blood to leak back into the atrium.
A prolapsed mitral valve does not affect the blood potassium level or the sensitivity of the heart to digoxin.
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