Lab Values

Question 1

Reasons that the SED rate might be elevated?

Answer 1

“TIN LAB

1. trauma
2. inflammatiion (systemic)/injury
3. neoplasms
4. ladies (especially older women)
5. anemia
6. body habitus (obesity)

Question 2

If the ESR is really really high

Answer 2

ABCs

1. A: giant cell Arteritis, rheumatoid Arthritis, Abcesses
2. B: TB
3. C: Cancers (multiple myeloma, lymphoma)

*osteomyelitis, endocarditis

Question 3

What is the typical lab work-up for low blood pressure?

Answer 3

If a patient comes in with low blood pressure (unexplained)

CBC, H and H, TSH, CMP

you may also want a CXR

stool hemeoccult (if he actually is anemic)

*I think, I should actully check all of this

Question 4

What is the most common cause of out patient hypercalcemia?

Answer 4

The most common cause of hypercalcemia in an outpatient settiing is a

hyperparathyroidism caused by a parathyroid adenoma

Question 5

What is the most common cause of hypercalcemia in an inpatient setting?

Answer 5

the most common cause of hypercalcemia in an inpatient setting is metastatic bone cancer showing lytic lesions

Question 6

How do you treat hypercalcemia?

Answer 6

Treat hypercalcemia with adequate hydration and a diuretic- this temporarily resolve the problem. The more definitive treatment is to force the Ca into the bone with a bisphosphonate (pamidronate)

Question 7

What is the most common cause of anion-gap metabolic acidosis in a sepsis patient?

Answer 7

Lactic acidosis due to organ failure