A nurse is caring for a client who is taking allopurinol. The nurse should monitor which of the following laboratory findings to determine the effectiveness of the medication?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Serum albumin: Albumin levels reflect nutritional status and liver function, not the effectiveness of allopurinol. Monitoring albumin is not relevant for assessing the drug’s impact on uric acid. B. Magnesium level: Magnesium levels are not affected by allopurinol and do not indicate therapeutic effectiveness. Routine monitoring of magnesium is not necessary for clients taking this medication. C. Serum chloride: Chloride is an electrolyte involved in acid-base balance and does not reflect allopurinol efficacy. Changes in chloride levels are unrelated to uric acid management. D. Uric acid level: Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces uric acid production. Monitoring serum uric acid levels allows the nurse to determine whether the medication effectively lowers uric acid and helps prevent gout flares or uric acid nephropathy.