A patient diagnosed with coronary artery disease begins therapy with simvastatin (Zocor).Which laboratory result should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of this treatment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Simvastatin is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) used to lower cholesterol levels, specifically LDL cholesterol. Therefore, the best laboratory result to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment would be total cholesterol levels. A reduction in total cholesterol levels indicates that the medication is effectively lowering LDL cholesterol levels and reducing the patient's risk of further coronary artery disease. AST, ALT, and ALP are liver function tests that may be ordered to monitor possible side effects of statin therapy on liver function.

A Patient Diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease Begins Therapy with Simvastatin