Question

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has AIDS and is taking amphotericin B for a fungal infection. The nurse should identify that which of the following values is an indication of an adverse effect of the medication? a) Potassium 4.8 mEq/L b) Magnesium 1.7 mEq/L c) BUN 34 mg/dL d) Hematocrit 45%

Answer 1

The indication of an adverse effect of amphotericin B in the listed laboratory values is a BUN level of 34 mg/dL, which suggests kidney toxicity, a known side effect of this antifungal medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question about which laboratory value is an indication of an adverse effect of the medication amphotericin B is option c) BUN 34 mg/dL. Amphotericin B is associated with nephrotoxicity (kidney toxicity), which can be indicated by an elevated Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) level. Normal BUN levels are typically between 7 and 20 mg/dL, and a BUN level of 34 mg/dL suggests that the kidneys are being adversely affected, likely due to the use of amphotericin B.

The other values listed do not fall outside of their typical ranges. A potassium level of 4.8 mEq/L is within the normal serum potassium range (usually 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L), magnesium at 1.7 mEq/L is within the normal range (typically 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L), and a hematocrit of 45% is also within the normal range for adults (usually 36-50% for men and 36-48% for women). Therefore, these are not indicative of adverse effects from amphotericin B.