What is a potential side effect of loop diuretics?

Loop diuretics, such as furosemide and bumetanide, are potent medications primarily used to manage fluid retention (edema) associated with conditions like heart failure, liver disease, and renal impairment. One potential side effect of loop diuretics is metabolic alkalosis. This occurs due to the loss of electrolytes and water through increased urine output, which leads to decreased hydrogen and chloride ions in the body.

When loop diuretics increase renal excretion of sodium and water, they also promote increased excretion of potassium and hydrogen ions, leading to a relative increase in bicarbonate concentration in the serum. This can result in a higher pH and the development of metabolic alkalosis.

In contrast, the other options do not align with common effects associated with loop diuretics. For instance, hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) is more closely associated with potassium-sparing diuretics rather than loop diuretics, which typically lead to hypokalemia. Edema would not be a side effect since loop diuretics are intended to reduce edema, and weight gain is not a typical side effect seen with diuretic therapy; instead, diuretics often lead to weight loss due to fluid loss. Therefore,