Electrolytes/Blood Test Results Flashcards
What is the main function of sodium?
Sodium helps with electrical signals in the body, allowing muscles to fire and the brain to work.
What is the function of potassium?
Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral. It helps retain fluid and maintain electrolyte balance. It is also important in the function of nerves.
What is the function of chloride?
Chloride helps to maintain intracellular and extracellular fluid balance, and maintain blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of body fluids.
What is the function of bicarbonate?
Bicarbonate is a negatively charged, having a role in acid-base (pH) balance and maintaining cellular electrical neutrality
What is the anion gap a measurement of?
The difference between the negatively charged and positively charged electrolytes.
What may anion gap abnormalities suggest?
This may indicate a disorder the lungs, kidneys, or other organ systems.
What is the reference range for sodium?
135 to 145 mmol/L
What is the reference range for potassium?
3.5 to 5.2 mmol/L
What is the reference range for chloride?
95-110 mmol/L
What is the reference range for bicarbonate?
22-32 mmol/L
What is the reference range for anion gap?
7 to 17 mmol/L
Hypocalcaemia
TBC
What is the difference between iron and ferritin?
Iron is free iron, ferritin is iron stores
What is the maximum dose of ferric carboxymaltose?
You can give a maximum of 1,000 mg of ferric carboxymaltose at once and you must separate doses by at least a week
What is the role of transferrin?
Iron is bound to transferrin in the plasma.
What is the difference between iron polymaltose and ferric carboxymaltose?
Iron polymaltose is cheap but takes hours to infuse, so it is given to inpatients. Ferric carboxymaltose is experience but can be infused in 15 minutes with a 30 minute observation time, so it is given on discharge.
At what stage does iron deficiency lead to anaemia?
The body will only become anaemic in iron deficiency if it cannot compensate through other mechanisms.
Does iron deficiency always cause anaemia?
No
How are transferrin and ferritin levels influenced by inflammation?
Transferrin levels are reduced in inflammation, while inflammation may cause an overload of ferritin.
Magnesium
TBC
Biotin
TBC
Vitamin B6 toxicity
TBC
What is the first thing you should check when reviewing an iron infusion dose?
You should check their iron studies first (not haemoglobin) as even if the patient is anaemic, this is not necessarily due to iron deficiency.
What is the standard practice for iron infusions at FMC for patients who have had a bleed but are not iron deficient?
Patients are typically given one infusion of 1000 mg ferric carboxymaltose regardless of their iron studies if they have had a bleed.
Are phosphate and phosphorus interchangeable?
Yes
Can you look at urea in place of urate/uric acid?
Yes
What level should you always check in patients with suspected demyelinating disease?
Vitamin D3
