A patient who has hypertension is taking a thiazide diuretic.The patient has a serum uric acid level of 8 mg/dL.The primary care nurse practitioner (NP)caring for this patient should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients who have hypertension or who take thiazide diuretics are at increased risk for gout.An elevated uric acid level alone is not diagnostic,and a 24-hour urine collection should be ordered.Colchicine should not be prescribed until the diagnosis is confirmed.It is not necessary to discontinue the thiazide diuretic.A referral to a specialist is not indicated.

A Patient Who Has Hypertension Is Taking a Thiazide Diuretic