Question

The nurse is caring for a client who has hemophilia A and is about to begin taking desmopressin to prevent bleeding. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following adverse reactions?

1) Increased blood pressure
2) Decreased blood pressure
3) Increased heart rate
4) Decreased heart rate

Answer 1

The nurse should monitor a client with hemophilia A taking desmopressin for increased blood pressure, an adverse effect due to the medication's vasoconstrictive action.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should monitor the client with hemophilia A who is taking desmopressin for increased blood pressure. Desmopressin is a synthetic analogue of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which means it acts similar to ADH by promoting water retention and vasoconstriction, thus potentially raising blood pressure. While desmopressin is used to prevent bleeding by increasing factor VIII activity, which is deficient in hemophilia A, one of its adverse effects is increased blood pressure due to its vasoconstrictive action. Therefore, the nurse should closely observe for symptoms such as headache, facial flushing, or a significant rise in blood pressure that may suggest an adverse reaction to the medication.