A patient has begun taking an HMG-COA reductase inhibitor (statins). Which statement about this class of drugs made by the nurse during patient education would be inappropriate?

Choice B reason: Cirrhosis of the liver is the most likely cause of portal hypertension. Cirrhosis leads to scarring and fibrosis of the liver tissue, which obstructs blood flow through the liver and increases pressure in the portal vein, resulting in portal hypertension.
Choice A reason: Left ventricular failure is not a common cause of portal hypertension. It primarily affects the heart and can lead to pulmonary congestion and systemic edema, but not portal hypertension.
Choice C reason: Thrombosis in the spleen can contribute to portal hypertension, but it is not the most common cause. Cirrhosis of the liver is a more prevalent and significant cause of this condition.
Choice D reason: Renal stenosis affects the blood vessels supplying the kidneys and is not related to portal hypertension. It can lead to hypertension, but not specifically portal hypertension.

Choice A reason:
Aspirin is an antiplatelet medication used to prevent blood clots in the arteries but is not the primary treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is likely in this scenario. The patient's symptoms suggest a possible DVT, which requires anticoagulation therapy.

Choice B reason:
Clopidogrel (Plavix) is another antiplatelet medication, similar to aspirin, and is not the primary treatment for DVT. It is more commonly used to prevent clotting in arterial diseases such as coronary artery disease but not for venous thromboembolism.

Choice C reason:
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is a low molecular weight heparin used for the initial treatment of DVT. It is an anticoagulant that helps prevent further clot formation and allows the body to break down the existing clot. Given the patient's symptoms, enoxaparin is the appropriate medication to anticipate for managing DVT.

Choice D reason:
Warfarin (Coumadin) is an oral anticoagulant used for long-term prevention of thromboembolism but is not typically used for initial DVT treatment due to its slow onset of action. Enoxaparin or other forms of heparin are preferred for immediate anticoagulation.