Clcium homeostasis - hypocalcaemia Flashcards
What are the acute clinical features of hypocalcaemia
Tetany
paraesthesia
seizures
Prolonged QT interval
hypotension
heart failure
arrythmia
papilloedema
chovstek’s sign
Trosseau’s sign
What are the chronic features of hypocalcaemia
Ectopic calcification
parkinsonism
dementia
dry skin
What is the serum calcium at which any lower causes symptoms of hypocalcaemia
1.9mmol/l
What is chovsteks sign
tap on patients zygomatic arch and will see twitching of the lip to spasm of all facial muscles depending on severity
What is Trosseaus’s sign
Spasm of the wrist and hand after inflating a sphygmomanometer on the arm
How does thyroid surgery affect calcium levels
Damage to the parathyroid glands can occur which can cause hypocalcaemia
What are causes of hypocalcaemia
Disruption of parathyroid glands in thyroid surgery
Severe vitamin D defficiency
Magnesium defficiency
which drug causes magnesium deficiency and what is magnesiums role in calcium in the plasma
PPI can cause low magnesium and magnesium interferes with PTH production
What examinations are done in hypocalcaemia
ECG
serum calcium
albumin
phosphate
PTH
U&Es
Vitamin D
magnesium
What is the most common cause of hypoparathyroidism
Post surgery hypoparathyroidism
What is pseudohypoparathyroidism
The hypoparathyroid gland is insensitive to PTH and unresponsive - cause hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia
What is the difference in PTH between pseudohypoparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism
Pseudohypoparathyroidism has increased PTH compared to decreased
What is the treatment for mild hypocalcaemia
Oral calcium tablets
What is mild hypocalcaeima
asymptomatic with serum calcium above 1.9mmol/l
what is the treatment for mild hypocalcaemia caused by low Vit D
Vit D replacement