A patient is taking spironolactone for the treatment of hypertension. The nurse notices EKG changes on the patient's heart monitor. What blood abnormality should the nurse suspect as the cause of such changes?

Explanation

• Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia, potentially resulting in cardiac arrhythmias 

• Severe hypocalcemia and leukocytosis may cause cardiac arrhythmias, but they are not side effects of spironolactone 

• Hypokalemia is associated with loop diuretics and is the opposite of what would be expected for a side effect of spironolactone 

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