LAB VALUES Flashcards
- 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L
- the major cation inside of cells.
- helps create membrane potential that helps in neurotransmission, heart function, and muscle contraction.
- regulated by renal function.
POTASSIUM
- 8.5-10.5 mg/dL
- < 8.5 can display depression, hallucinations, tingling, and paresthesias and these can further progress to arrhythmias and myocardial infarction.
- > 10.5 may develop nausea and vomiting, can progress to cerebellar ataxia and coma
CALCIUM
- 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL
- key component of DNA and RNA
- used to transport cellular energy in ATP
- < 2.5 can manifest as muscle and neurological dysfunction and disruption of muscle blood cells due to lack of ATP.
- > 4.5 display diarrhea and calcification of organs and soft tissue and can show a decreased ability to use iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc
PHOSPHATE
- 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L
- important in cellular function, dreaming, muscle contraction and insulin regulation
- < 1.5 show muscle weakness, increased reflexes, tetany, and can develop convulsions.
- > 2.5show bradycardia and flushing at mildly increased levels.
- as levels increase, patients can show flaccid paralysis and EKG changes. levels above 15, respiratory arrest and asystole
MAGNESIUM
- 135 to 145 mEq/L
- major contributor to cell osmolality and overall body water balance
- important neuroconduction and muscle contraction.
- < 135 symptoms of lethargy, anorexia, muscle cramping, and nausea.
- > 145 increased thirst, muscle twitching, hyperreflexia, seizures and progress to coma
SODIUM
- 95 to 105 mEq/L
- essential to maintaining acid-base homeostasis, along with cellular metabolism.
- important to neuronal firing as it interacts with GABA transport.
- controlled by kidney
- < 95 seen in patients with metabolic acidosis
- > 105 seen in patients with respiratory or metabolic acidosis.
CHLORIDE
related to signal transduction, muscle contraction, neurotransmission, vasodilation, and hormone secretion
calcium
attributed to cell osmolality and overall body water balance
sodium
anion that is most essential to maintain acid-base homeostasis in the kidney
chloride
key component of DNA and RNA, and is used to transport cellular energy in ATP
phosphate
most likely affected in pt with U-wave on EKG
Potassium
involved in dreaming, muscle contraction, and insulin regulation
magnesium
- 10-20 mg/dL
- used to identify kidney or renal problems.
- rapid cell destruction from infections, fever, GI bleeding, dehydration, and excessive muscle breakdown
BUN
BLOOD UREA NITROGREN
- 6-1.3 mg/dL
- Useful in measuring kidney function
- Normal value 0.6-1.3 is indicative of a healthy kidney, where it is easily able to filter and excrete creatinine.
- Rises in creatinine can indicate renal damage or failure, where the kidney is unable to properly filter creatinine, causing rise in serum.
CREATININE
- 2-1.2 mg/dL
- Combination of direct and indirect bilirubin levels.
- Helps measure liver function
- Elevated levels indicate liver damage or disease and often causes jaundice
- Critical for adult: 12mg/dL
- Critical for newborn: 15mg/dL
- Jaundice is normally seen when the level of bilirubin in the blood exceeds 2.5-3mg/dL
BILIRUBIN
3.5 - 5.0 mg/dL
•Protein made by the liver and useful in assessing various disease states in pts.
•Main protein in human blood plasma.
•Low albumin may result of liver disease, kidney disease, malabsorption, and malnutrition.
•High albumin may indicate dehydration or a high protein diet.
Pts w/ low albumin levels may need infusion of replacement albumin or nutritional intervention
ALBUMIN
6.4-8.3 g/dL
•Determines amount of serum globulin and albumin.
•Globulins help regulate immune system while albumin uses oncotic pressure to keep fluid inside blood vessels.
•Certain drugs affect results.
•Elevated levels associated with burns, cirrhosis, and dehydration.
•Lower levels indicate malabsorption or liver disease
TOTAL PROTEIN
