A client is admitted to the emergency department with a suspected myocardial infarction. Which laboratory test should the nurse prioritize to confirm the diagnosis?

Choice A reason: Ascites, fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity, is a common complication of liver cirrhosis due to portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia. It increases infection risk and discomfort, making it the priority to monitor, as early detection guides diuretic therapy and paracentesis.

Choice B reason: Peripheral neuropathy is not a primary cirrhosis complication, though it may occur in alcoholic liver disease. Ascites is more common, resulting from portal hypertension, making it the priority to monitor, as it directly reflects liver dysfunction and requires urgent management.

Choice C reason: Pulmonary edema is associated with heart failure, not cirrhosis. Ascites is a hallmark of cirrhosis, caused by portal hypertension and low albumin, making it the priority complication to monitor, as it indicates worsening liver function and requires immediate intervention.

Choice D reason: Kidney stones are unrelated to cirrhosis, which primarily causes ascites due to portal hypertension. Monitoring ascites is critical, as it reflects liver decompensation, increasing risks like spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, making it the priority over unrelated renal conditions.

Choice A reason: Topical corticosteroids reduce inflammation, scaling, and itching in psoriasis by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune responses in affected skin. They are first-line for plaque psoriasis with silvery scales, effectively managing burning and promoting healing of inflamed, bleeding areas on elbows and palms.

Choice B reason: Topical analgesics relieve pain but do not address psoriasis’s underlying inflammation or scaling. Psoriatic plaques are primarily inflammatory, not neuropathic. Analgesics may reduce burning temporarily but lack the anti-inflammatory action of corticosteroids, making them ineffective for managing chronic psoriatic lesions.

Choice C reason: Topical antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not psoriasis, which is an autoimmune inflammatory condition. Bleeding in psoriasis results from skin fragility, not infection. Antibiotics are unnecessary unless secondary infection is confirmed, making them inappropriate compared to corticosteroids, which target the disease’s inflammatory pathology.

Choice D reason: Colloidal oatmeal-based lotion soothes irritated skin and reduces itching but lacks anti-inflammatory properties to treat psoriasis’s scaling and inflammation. It may provide symptomatic relief but is inadequate for managing chronic plaques, unlike corticosteroids, which directly address the autoimmune-driven inflammation and scaling.