A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has beers taking a medication that can cause hepatoxicity. Which of the following data should the nurse report to the provider?
Explanation & Rationale
Here is the rationale for each choice: A. HbA1C 5.9%: HbA1C is a measure of long-term glucose control in patients, often used in diabetes management. A value of 5.9% is slightly above the normal range (4–5.7%) but does not indicate hepatotoxicity. B. Albumin 3.8 g/dl: Albumin is a protein produced by the liver, and its levels can reflect liver function. A normal range is 3.5–5 g/dl, and 3.8 g/dl falls within this range. Thus, it does not indicate hepatotoxicity. C. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 67 units/l: ALT is an enzyme primarily found in the liver and is a key marker for liver injury. The normal range for ALT is approximately 7–56 units/l. A value of 67 units/l is slightly elevated, which may suggest mild liver damage or hepatotoxicity. This result should be reported to the provider, as it could be associated with the medication’s impact on the liver. D. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 39 units/l: AST is another enzyme used to evaluate liver function, though it is less specific to the liver than ALT, as AST is also found in other tissues such as the heart and muscles. The normal range for AST is roughly 10–40 units/l.