What adverse effect might result from using an ACE inhibitor in combination with potassium-sparing diuretics?

Using an ACE inhibitor in combination with potassium-sparing diuretics can lead to hyperkalemia, which is an elevated level of potassium in the blood. ACE inhibitors work by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance, and they can increase the levels of potassium in the serum. Potassium-sparing diuretics, on the other hand, specifically reduce potassium excretion through the kidneys, also leading to increased potassium levels.

When these two medications are combined, their effects on potassium levels can have a synergistic effect, significantly raising the risk for hyperkalemia. This condition can be serious, as it may lead to cardiac complications, such as arrhythmias. Monitoring potassium levels is particularly important when these agents are used together to prevent adverse effects.

In contrast to hyperkalemia, the other options provided do not reflect the primary concern associated with the combination of these two types of medications. Increased diuresis, hypoglycemia, and hypotension are not directly linked to the pharmacological interactions of ACE inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics in the same way that hyperkalemia is.