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More Questions ( 6 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who has gouty arthritis and is taking allopurinol (Zyloprim). Which laboratory value should be monitored periodically?²
Option A is wrong because serum uric acid level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol. Serum uric acid level is the amount of uric acid in the blood, which is a waste product that is produced by the breakdown of purines. Serum uric acid level is usually high in patients with gouty arthritis, which causes inflammation and pain in the joints due to the deposition of uric acid crystals . Allopurinol lowers serum uric acid level by inhibiting xanthine oxidase, which is involved in the metabolism of purines . However, serum uric acid level is not a reliable indicator of allopurinol's effectiveness or toxicity, because it does not reflect the amount of uric acid in the tissues or urine, where it can cause damage or complications . Serum uric acid level may also fluctuate due to various factors such as diet, hydration, renal function, or drug interactions . Therefore, serum uric acid level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol.
Option B is wrong because serum potassium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol. Serum potassium level is the amount of potassium in the blood, which is an electrolyte that is essential for the function of nerves, muscles, and heart. Serum potassium level is normally regulated by the kidneys, which excrete excess potassium or retain potassium when needed . Serum potassium level can be affected by various factors such as diet, hydration, acid-base balance, renal function, or drug interactions . Allopurinol does not have a direct effect on serum potassium level, but it may interact with some drugs that can alter serum potassium level, such as diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or potassium supplements . However, these drug interactions are not specific to allopurinol and can occur with any drug that affects renal function or electrolyte balance . Therefore, serum potassium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol.
The laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol is serum creatinine level. Allopurinol is a drug that lowers the level of uric acid in the blood and urine by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which is involved in the metabolism of purines¹². Allopurinol is used to treat gouty arthritis, a condition that causes painful inflammation of the joints due to the deposition of uric acid crystals¹².
Option D is wrong because serum calcium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol. Serum calcium level is the amount of calcium in the blood, which is a mineral that is involved in various processes such as bone formation, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting. Serum calcium level is normally regulated by the parathyroid glands, which secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) to increase calcium absorption from the gut and bone resorption from the skeleton . Serum calcium level can be affected by various factors such as diet, hydration, vitamin D status, renal function, or drug interactions . Allopurinol does not have a direct effect on serum calcium level, but it may interact with some drugs that can alter serum calcium level, such as thiazide diuretics, which can increase calcium reabsorption in the kidney and cause hypercalcemia . However, these drug interactions are not specific to allopurinol and can occur with any drug that affects renal function or calcium metabolism . Therefore, serum calcium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol.
The laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol is serum creatinine level. Allopurinol is a drug that lowers the level of uric acid in the blood and urine by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which is involved in the metabolism of purines¹². Allopurinol is used to treat gouty arthritis, a condition that causes painful inflammation of the joints due to the deposition of uric acid crystals¹².
The other options are incorrect because:
- Option A is wrong because serum uric acid level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol. Serum uric acid level is the amount of uric acid in the blood, which is a waste product that is produced by the breakdown of purines. Serum uric acid level is usually high in patients with gouty arthritis, which causes inflammation and pain in the joints due to the deposition of uric acid crystals . Allopurinol lowers serum uric acid level by inhibiting xanthine oxidase, which is involved in the metabolism of purines . However, serum uric acid level is not a reliable indicator of allopurinol's effectiveness or toxicity, because it does not reflect the amount of uric acid in the tissues or urine, where it can cause damage or complications . Serum uric acid level may also fluctuate due to various factors such as diet, hydration, renal function, or drug interactions . Therefore, serum uric acid level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol.
- Option B is wrong because serum potassium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol. Serum potassium level is the amount of potassium in the blood, which is an electrolyte that is essential for the function of nerves, muscles, and heart. Serum potassium level is normally regulated by the kidneys, which excrete excess potassium or retain potassium when needed . Serum potassium level can be affected by various factors such as diet, hydration, acid-base balance, renal function, or drug interactions . Allopurinol does not have a direct effect on serum potassium level, but it may interact with some drugs that can alter serum potassium level, such as diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or potassium supplements . However, these drug interactions are not specific to allopurinol and can occur with any drug that affects renal function or electrolyte balance . Therefore, serum potassium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol.
- Option D is wrong because serum calcium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol. Serum calcium level is the amount of calcium in the blood, which is a mineral that is involved in various processes such as bone formation, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting. Serum calcium level is normally regulated by the parathyroid glands, which secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) to increase calcium absorption from the gut and bone resorption from the skeleton . Serum calcium level can be affected by various factors such as diet, hydration, vitamin D status, renal function, or drug interactions . Allopurinol does not have a direct effect on serum calcium level, but it may interact with some drugs that can alter serum calcium level, such as thiazide diuretics, which can increase calcium reabsorption in the kidney and cause hypercalcemia . However, these drug interactions are not specific to allopurinol and can occur with any drug that affects renal function or calcium metabolism . Therefore, serum calcium level is not the laboratory value that should be monitored periodically when taking allopurinol.