A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client who has a fungal infection and is receiving itraconazole therapy.
Which of the following findings should alert the nurse to a potential adverse effect of this medication?

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity, which is damage to the kidneys.Serum creatinine is a measure of kidney function and should be monitored closely during gentamicin therapy. The normal range for serum creatinine is 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for men and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.

Choice B is wrong because serum potassium is not affected by gentamicin.

The normal range for serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L.

Choice C is wrong because serum calcium is not affected by gentamicin.

The normal range for serum calcium is 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL.

Choice D is wrong because serum glucose is not affected by gentamicin.

The normal range for serum glucose is 70 to 110 mg/dL.

This is because itraconazole can cause renal impairment and decreased urine output as an adverse effect.A normal serum creatinine level is 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for males and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for females.

Choice B is wrong because decreased serum potassium level is not an adverse effect of itraconazole.Itraconazole can cause hypokalemia, which is a low level of potassium in the blood, but this is usually due to fluid retention and heart failure caused by the drug.A normal serum potassium level is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L.

Choice C is wrong because increased serum glucose level is not an adverse effect of itraconazole.Itraconazole can cause hyperglycemia, which is a high level of glucose in the blood, but this is usually due to diabetes mellitus or steroid use in patients taking the drug.A normal serum glucose level is 70 to 100 mg/dL.

Choice D is wrong because decreased white blood cell count is not an adverse effect of itraconazole.Itraconazole can cause leukopenia, which is a low level of white blood cells in the blood, but this is usually due to bone marrow suppression or infection in patients taking the drug.A normal white blood cell count is 4,500 to 11,000 cells/mm3.