The nurse is reviewing the annual lipid panel for a client taking gemfibrozil. What change in laboratory results indicates the medication is effective? Laboratory Test Reference range Results from 2022 Results from 2023 Total Cholesterol <200 mg/dL 324 310 Low density poprotein (LDU) <130 mg/dL 140 120 High dematy poprotein (HDL) >45mg/dL 42 26 Triglycerides 40-160 mg/dL 180 130

A. Triglycerides: Gemfibrozil is primarily prescribed to reduce elevated triglyceride levels. The triglycerides decreased significantly from 180 mg/dL in 2022 to 130 mg/dL in 2023, moving the client into the normal reference range. This drop indicates the medication is achieving its primary therapeutic goal. B. Total cholesterol: Total cholesterol showed only a modest decrease from 324 to 310 mg/dL and remains well above the target range. Gemfibrozil may slightly lower total cholesterol, but this is not the main marker of its effectiveness. C. Low density lipoprotein (LDL): LDL decreased from 140 to 120 mg/dL, which is within the desired range. While this is a positive change, gemfibrozil is not primarily used for LDL reduction, making this an indirect and secondary effect. D. High density lipoprotein (HDL): HDL dropped from 42 to 26 mg/dL, which is unfavorable. HDL should increase or stay stable during gemfibrozil therapy, so this change suggests a lack of benefit or even a negative response in that aspect of lipid regulation.