The nurse is caring for client who presented to the emergency department for chest pain. The nurse knows that which of the following laboratory tests is most specific for myocardial damage?
Troponins I & T
Creatine Kinase
C Reactive Protein
Myoglobin
The Correct Answer is A
A. Troponins I & T:
Troponins I and T are the most specific biomarkers for myocardial damage. These proteins are released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is injured, such as during a myocardial infarction (MI). Troponins remain elevated for a prolonged period (typically up to 1-2 weeks) after myocardial injury, making them highly sensitive for detecting both acute and recent myocardial damage. Because of their high specificity for heart muscle, they are considered the gold standard for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction.
B. Creatine Kinase:
Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. While CK-MB (the heart-specific isoenzyme) can be elevated in cases of myocardial damage, it is less specific than troponins because it can also be elevated due to skeletal muscle injury or other conditions. CK-MB levels rise more rapidly than troponins but return to baseline within 48-72 hours, making it less useful for detecting myocardial damage over a longer period.
C. C-Reactive Protein (CRP):
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant produced by the liver in response to inflammation or tissue injury. While CRP levels can be elevated in various inflammatory conditions, including atherosclerosis, it is not specific to myocardial damage. Elevated CRP is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events but does not provide specific information about acute myocardial injury, making it less helpful for diagnosing myocardial infarction.
D. Myoglobin:
Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein found in both skeletal and cardiac muscle. While it is an early marker that rises rapidly after muscle injury, it lacks specificity for myocardial damage because it is also released from skeletal muscle. Myoglobin levels peak quickly (within 1-4 hours of injury) and return to baseline within 24 hours, so it is not as useful for diagnosing a myocardial infarction or monitoring long-term cardiac injury.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Check the identifying information on the unit of blood against the patient’s ID bracelet:
This is the highest priority to ensure patient safety before beginning a transfusion. The risk of transfusion reactions, including hemolytic reactions due to mismatched blood, makes verifying patient identification critical. The nurse must match the blood product with the patient’s information and confirm that the blood product is correct for the patient. This verification is typically done with a second nurse to ensure safety. If the blood is mismatched, it can lead to severe, potentially life-threatening consequences.
B) Stay with the patient for 60 minutes after starting the transfusion:
While it is important to stay with the patient during the transfusion and monitor for adverse reactions, the highest priority before starting the transfusion is verifying patient and blood product compatibility. After starting the transfusion, staying with the patient for the first 15 minutes is critical for monitoring for early signs of a transfusion reaction, but this action occurs after the blood has been correctly matched and started.
C) Add the blood transfusion as a secondary line to the existing IV:
Ensuring proper identification and blood product matching is more critical than deciding whether to use a secondary IV line. The nurse should verify patient and blood compatibility first and then proceed with setting up the IV line for transfusion.
D) Prime new primary IV tubing with lactated Ringer's solution to use for the transfusion:
Priming IV tubing with lactated Ringer’s solution is incorrect for a blood transfusion. Blood should only be administered with normal saline, as other fluids, including lactated Ringer's solution, can cause clotting or hemolysis when mixed with blood products. This action would not be a safe or appropriate step in preparing for a blood transfusion. The correct solution to prime tubing for blood transfusions is normal saline, and this is secondary to ensuring proper patient identification and blood compatibility.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Fasting plasma glucose of 98 mg/dl:
A fasting plasma glucose level of 98 mg/dl is within the normal range (70–99 mg/dl). According to diagnostic criteria, a fasting plasma glucose level of 100–125 mg/dl is considered prediabetes, and 126 mg/dl or higher on two separate occasions is diagnostic for diabetes. Therefore, a fasting plasma glucose of 98 mg/dl is not diagnostic for diabetes.
B) Hemoglobin A1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) of 7.2%:
An HbA1C level of 7.2% is diagnostic for diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) defines diabetes as an HbA1C of 6.5% or higher. The HbA1C test reflects the average blood glucose level over the past 2–3 months, and a level of 7.2% indicates that the patient's blood glucose levels have been elevated over time, consistent with diabetes. This is a key diagnostic criterion.
C) Random plasma glucose of 110 mg/dl:
Although a random glucose value greater than 200 mg/dl with symptoms of hyperglycemia can be diagnostic of diabetes, 110 mg/dl is within the normal range and does not meet the criteria for a diabetes diagnosis. For diagnostic purposes, a random plasma glucose must be 200 mg/dl or higher.
D) Two hour plasma glucose of 140 mg/dl:
For the test to be diagnostic of diabetes, the plasma glucose must be 200 mg/dl or higher after two hours. A level of 140 mg/dl suggests normal glucose tolerance or prediabetes, but it is not diagnostic for diabetes.
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