A nurse is reviewing a laboratory report for a client who is at 33 weeks of gestation and has preeclampsia.Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse expect?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A rationaleElevated BUN levels indicate renal involvement in preeclampsia due to reduced kidney function. Normal BUN range is 10 to 20 mg/dL; levels above this signify compromised renal filtering capacity.Choice B rationaleLow hemoglobin levels reflect anemia, but they are unrelated to preeclampsia. Normal hemoglobin levels range from 11 to 16 g/dL, and deviations are not a diagnostic marker for this condition.Choice C rationaleSerum uric acid is often elevated in preeclampsia due to impaired renal clearance. Normal range is 2.7 to 7.3 mg/dL, and lower levels are inconsistent with preeclampsia symptoms.Choice D rationaleElevated blood glucose suggests gestational diabetes rather than preeclampsia. Normal casual glucose levels are less than 200 mg/dL, and values beyond this indicate metabolic disturbances.