A young adult has been diagnosed with hookworm and has begun taking mebendazole. When monitoring this patient's health status during treatment, what diagnostic value should the nurse prioritize?
A) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
B) White blood cell differential
C) International normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell levels
A
Feedback:
Because mebendazole is potentially hepatotoxic, it is important to assess the hepatic enzymes AST and ALT for elevations leading to hepatic failure. The other listed laboratory values are relevant indicators of the patient's health status, but neither relates directly to the specific risks of mebendazole.
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