Electrolytes and Lab Data Flashcards
Electrolyte functions: sodium
Causes the body to retain water (Sodium Swells)
What system responds to changes to: Sodium?
Brain
- The brain does not like when sodium is out of whack
- Neuro changes w/sodium imbalances
Electrolyte functions: Potassium
Potassium helps the heart muscle to pump out blood to the body
What system is affected by changes in: Potassium?
Heart
Potassium imbalances can cause cardiac dysrhythmias that can be life threatening
Electrolyte functions: phosphorus
Helps the body use vitamins to maintain tooth and bone health
Electrolyte functions: Calcium
Calcium think creating bone
- Calcium imbalance is at risk for pathological fractures
- Responsible for muscle contraction
Electrolyte functions: magnesium
Manages muscle
Functions:
- builds protein and strong bones
- regulates blood sugar, BP, and muscle/nerve function
- Counteracts calcium
Systemic affect from increased magnesium?
Causes decreased vitals signs
- calming effect, muscle relaxation & sedated
- Magnesium helps counteract effects of calcium which promotes contraction
Electrolyte functions: chloride
Carrying fluids
Systemic function of Chloride?
Maintain healthy fluid volume in the cells
HYPOnatermia is a reflection of which electrolyte?
Sodium
What are complications of Hyponatremia?
- Seizures and coma,
- Decreased BP
- Increased HR
The brain does not like it when which electrolyte is out of balance?
Sodium
Hypernatremia is a reflection of high…?
Sodium
What are some signs/symptoms of hypernatermia?
Big & Bloated
- Edema
- Increased BP
- Fluid retention
- Flushed skin
Hypo/hyperkalamia is a imbalance of which electrolyte?
Potassium (K+)
What can Potassium imbalances cause?
cardiac dysrhymthimias
What are some complications of Hypokalamia?
Not enough contraction (weak)
Other:
- constipation & paralytic lieu’s
What are some complications of hyperkalamia?
Muscle contract for TOO long
Others:
-Diarrhea
-paralysis in extremities
What kind of relationship does Calcium and Phosphorus have?
Inverse relationship
What is the function of Spironolactone?
Potassium sparring diuretic (maintains)
- KEEPS K+
Risk:
High potassium
Low magnesium can cause what change in the QRS complex?
A prolonged QT interval.
AKA hypomagnesemia
Normal Sodium Levels?
135-145
What are signs and symptoms of high sodium levels?
- Causes?
What are signs and symptoms of low sodium levels?
- Causes?
Normal Potassium Levels?
3.5-5
What are signs and symptoms of low potassium levels?
What are signs and symptoms of high potassium levels?
Normal Chloride levels?
98-111
What are signs and symptoms of low chloride levels?
- Causes?
What are signs and symptoms of high chloride levels?
- Causes?
What are signs and symptoms of low glucose levels?
- Causes?
Normal glucose levels?
- What abnormalities Indicate?
4-8
Normal Creatinine levels?
- What abnormalities Indicate?
50-120
Normal BUN levels?
- What abnormalities Indicate?
3-9
Normal Lactate levels?
- What abnormalities Indicate?
1.7-2
Normal Anion Gap Range?
9-14
How do you calculate anion gap?
(Na - (Cl + HCO3))
What does a high, normal, or low gap imply?
Systemic affect of decreased magnesium levels
Increased stress, sleep disturbances and muscle cramps/spasms
How would a increase in Magnesium levels affect vital signs?
- Could stabilize HR (given amount of mag is not excessive)
- Decrease BP (vasodilatory effect)
- Reduce RR (relaxation)
How would a decrease in Magnesium levels affect vital signs?
- Could cause arrhythmias and elevated HR
- Increase BP
- Increased RR and effort
What lab panels are assessed in a Renal Function Test?
- Serum creatinine
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- eGFR
- Electrolyte (Na, K, Cl, HCO3)
- Urinalyses
- 24hr urine protein
- Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR)
What lab panels are assessed in a cardiac function test?
- Lipid Panel (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides)
- Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
- Troponins
- C-reactive proteins (CRP)
- Electrolytes
What lab panels are assessed for Hypertension related tests?
- Aldosterone and Renin levels
- Plasma Metanephrines
- Urine catecholamines
- Thyroid function tests
What does eGFR indicate?
The rate at which kidneys filter waste from blood.
- The higher the number, the better the kidney function
- The lower, the worst the kidney function
What is assessed in a urinalysis?
Checks for protein, blood, and other abnormalities in the urine…including kidney damage.
What is the difference between Creatinine and BUN when assessing kidney function?
What does Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (ACR) indicate?
Early kidney damage by measuring albumin levels in urine relative to creatinine
What do elevated levels of BNP indicate?
Heart failure or ventricular strain
- Implies leaky or inefficient valve that causes cardiac enzymes to leak into the blood
What do elevated troponin levels indicate?
Myocardial injury or infarction
What is the difference between creatinine and lactate?
- Creatinine is a waste product of normal muscle metabolism, not anaerobic metabolism, and elevated levels indicate kidney dysfunction
- Lactate is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, elevated levels indicate conditions causing increased anabolic metabolism or impaired lactate clearance, often suggesting tissue hypoxia or systemic failure.
Why is creatinine a indicator of deteriorating kidney function?
When kidneys are not functioning properly, their ability to filter out creatinine from the blood decreases (decreasing GFR).
- As a result, creatinine accumulates in the blood, leading to elevated serum creatinine levels
What is the correlation between GFR and creatinine?
Serum creatine levels are inversely related to GFR.
- as GFR decreases (decreasing kidney function), creatinine levels in the blood increase
What is the function of C-reactive proteins (CRP)?
Produced by the liver in response to inflammation, part of the bodies immune response and is released into the blood stream in response to inflammation, infection, and tissue injury.
- when FCRP binds to dying cells, it actives the complement system which promotes phagocytosis by macrophages
What do elevated C-reactive proteins (CRP) indicate?
Response to acute and chronic inflammation, its a non specific marker though so its not a accurate marker to rely on. CRP can indicate:
- bacterial infections (like pneumonia)
- inflammatory diseases (arthritis)
- CV disease
What is blood lactate concentration dependant on?
The rate of production and the rate of metabolism in the liver and kidneys
- When there is insufficient O2 available for pyrrhic acid to catabolism to CO2 and O2, it turns into lactic acid.
- Think anaerobic metabolism if lactate is high (ana = no O2)
What are 2 categories that would cause lactate levels to be abnormal?
- Hypoxic (shock, hypovolemia, LVF)
- Metabolic (diabetes mellitus, neoplasia, liver disease, drugs)
What are 2 clinical causes of abnormal Hb levels?
- Anemia (decreased Hb concentration)
- Polycythemia (increased Hb concentration)
What are 6 reasons a patient may be anemic?
- Acute bleeding
- Hemolytic anemia (non-RBC defect or RBC defect)
- Marrow failure
- Iron deficiency
- Sideroblastic anemia
- Megaloblastic anemia (vitamin b12 and folic acid deficiency)
What are 6 reasons a patient may be anemic?
- Acute bleeding
- Hemolytic anemia (non-RBC defect or RBC defect aka autoimmune vs metabolic/membrane defects)
- Marrow failure
- Iron deficiency
- Sideroblastic anemia
- Meglablastic anemia (vitamin b12 and folic acid deficiency)
6 causes of Polycythemia?
- Dehydration
- Response to low arterial O2 sats
- Response to increased O2 affinity by abnormal hemoglobin variants
- Response to decreased O2 transport by Hb
- Tumor induced
- Polycythemia vera (myeloproliferation of RBCs)
