What is the action of pentoxifylline (Trental), a hemorheologic agent used to treat chronic occlusive arteriole disease?

a. Vasodilates the peripheral arteries
b. Potentiates the blood-clotting mechanism
c. Increases erythrocyte flexibility
d. Increases blood viscosity


ANS: C
Pentoxifylline enhances red blood cell (erythrocyte) flexibility, which reduces blood viscosity. This allows for more blood to perfuse into the tissues. Muscle tissues become better oxygenated and intermittent claudication is reduced. Pentoxifylline does not cause vasodilation. Pentoxifylline acts to decrease clotting and decreases blood viscosity.

Nursing

You might also like to view...

The persistent eating of nonfood items such as clay, laundry starch, insects, leaves, or pebbles that lasts for longer than 1 month is called:

a. Pica b. Bulimia c. Rumination d. Regurgitation

Nursing

The appearance of which of these signs indicates the beginning of pulmonary system failure in the dying client?

a. Cheyne-Stokes respirations c. respiratory distress b. episodic breathing d. the death rattle

Nursing

A patient is admitted with acute pericarditis. When auscultating heart sounds, the nurse should ask the patient to perform which action?

1. sit and lean forward while the nurse auscultates at the left lower sternal border 2. lie supine and breathe quietly while the nurse auscultates for expiratory wheezes 3. sit upright while the nurse auscultates the outer aspects of the upper lobes for vesicular breath sounds 4. sit and lean forward while the nurse auscultates at the second right intercostal space, near the sternal border

Nursing

A nursing professor is educating students on nerve agents. The nursing professor judges teaching to be effective when one of students states:

a. "Sarin gas is a chemical agent that is clas-sified as a nerve agent.". b. "Mustard gas is a chemical agent that is classified as a nerve agent.". c. "Ricin is a chemical agent that is classified as a nerve agent.". d. "Chlorine gas is a chemical agent that is classified as a nerve agent.".

Nursing