Calcium metabolism Flashcards
What is calcium fundamental for?
Muscle and nerve function
Where must calcium be tightly regulated?
in the BLOOD PLASMA
It must be maintained regardless of any calcium /vit D deficiency, so bone may be sacrificed for this
What portions of calcium is intracellular (bone) / extracellular (plasma)
Intracell = 99% Extracell = 1%
Explain the three forms serum calcium is found in
Free - 50%
Protein bound - 40% (to albumin)
Complexed - 10% (citrate/phosphate)
What occurs to total serum calcium in liver disease?
Liver disease means lower albumin
This means lower protein bound calcium
So the total serum calcium seems lower
What must we do to correct for these low albumin levels?
CORRECTED CALCIUM
How do you work out corrected calcium values?
Corrected calcium = serum calcium + 0.02 x (40- serum albumin)
Explain the physiological response to low calcium
- Fall in ionised calcium
- Release of PTH from parathyroid gland
- PTH causes:
- increased bone calcium resorption
- increased renal calcium resorption
- increased 1,25OH vitamin D
- Increased intestinal absorption of Calcium - This causes a rise in plasma calcium
What organ secretes PTH?
Parathyroid gland
Which three organs are involved in increasing plasma calcium?
KIDNEY (absorption + 1a hydroxylase production)
GI (absorption)
BONE (resporption)
What is the role of PTH?
Liberate calcium from bone
Reabsorb calcium from kidneys and increase kidney secretion of 1alpha hydroxylase
Stimulate renal phosphate excretion in urine
Which organ produces 1alpha hydroxylase?
KIDNEY
What does the urine sample of someone with high PTH look like?
HIGH PO
LOW Ca
What are the two forms of Vitamin D?
D2 ergocalciferol
D3 cholecalciferol
Where is Vit D2 derived from?
From plants
Where is Vit D3 derived from?
mammals
When UV light hits the skin and converts 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholecalciferol
What organ produces 25 hydroxylase?
LIVER
What triggers the liver to produce 25 hydroxylase?
NOTHING
The liver produces it itself, constantly
What is the function of 25 hydroxylase?
Conver cholecalciferol to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol
What is the rate limiting step in 1,25OH 2 D3 synthesis?
1alpha hydroxylase converting 25 OH D3 to 1,25OH2 D3
What organ secretes 1 alpha hydroxylase
kidney
What triggers 1alpha hydroxylase production in the kidney?
PTH release from the parathyroid gland
What is Calcitriol?
The drug equivalent of 1,25 OH2 D3
Who is Calcitriol prescribed to
To patients with renal dysfunction
So they cannot produce 1alpha hydroxylase
What other tissue type can abnormally produce 1a hydroxylase?
Lung cells of sarcoid tissue
When is it likely that lung cells of sarcoid tissues produce 1a hydroxylase?
Summer months
Because there is more sunlight > more vitamin D activation