Many hospitalized patients are at risk for developing VTE.

Choice A reason: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, increases renal workload, risking kidney injury. Creatinine rises (>1.2 mg/dL) with reduced glomerular filtration, a critical marker to monitor for nephrotoxicity or dehydration in heart failure patients.

Choice B reason: Platelets (150,000-450,000/µL) assess clotting, unaffected by furosemide directly. Diuretics alter volume, not hematopoiesis, so monitoring platelets is irrelevant unless bleeding or unrelated conditions complicate the patient’s status.

Choice C reason: Chloride may drop with furosemide, but it’s less critical than creatinine. Hypochloremia affects acid-base balance, yet renal function takes priority, as kidney damage has broader, immediate implications in therapy.

Choice D reason: RBC count reflects anemia, not furosemide’s primary effects. Diuretics cause hemoconcentration if overused, but creatinine better captures renal impact, making red cell monitoring secondary in this context.

Choice A reason: Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, blocks angiotensin II formation, relaxing arteries and reducing blood pressure. It directly treats hypertension by decreasing vascular resistance and preload, a first-line therapy supported by its systemic vasodilatory effects.

Choice B reason: Metformin manages type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake. It doesn’t affect blood pressure directly, targeting metabolic pathways instead, so it’s not a hypertension treatment despite cardiovascular risk benefits.

Choice C reason: Hydralazine dilates arterioles by relaxing smooth muscle, directly lowering blood pressure. Used in hypertension, especially in crises, it reduces afterload, making it a potent antihypertensive agent when rapid control is needed.

Choice D reason: Aspirin prevents platelet aggregation, reducing thrombotic risk in cardiovascular disease. It doesn’t lower blood pressure directly, acting as an antiplatelet rather than an antihypertensive, so it’s not a primary treatment for hypertension.

Choice E reason: Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, relaxes vascular smooth muscle, decreasing peripheral resistance. It directly treats hypertension by dilating arteries, improving blood flow, and reducing cardiac workload, a common and effective long-term therapy.