Lab values

Question 1

Normal levels of sodium

Answer 1

135-145 mmol/L

Question 2

Name, Cause and result of decrease sodium levels

Answer 2

Hyponatremia

Cause: from skin, kidneys, gut

Result: weakness, postural hypotension, syncope, weight loss, cardiovascular changes, decreased skin turgor, headache, confusion, muscle spasm, seizure

Question 3

Name, Cause and result of increased sodium levels

Answer 3

Hypernatremia

Cause: increased intake, decreased excretion

Result: signs and symptoms of dehydration including edema, pulmonary edema, hypertension, effusions

Question 4

Normal potassium levels

Answer 4

3.4-5.2 mmol/L

Question 5

Name, Cause and Result of reduced potassium levels

Answer 5

Hypokalemia

Cause: alkalosis, renal failure, diarrhea, vomiting, diuretics

Result: weakness, nausea, vomiting, fainting, palpitations, hypotonia, confusion, depression, arrhythmias, alkalosis

Question 6

Name, Cause and Result of increased potassium levels

Answer 6

Hyperkalemia

Cause: catabolism, acidosis, renal failure

Result: minimal symptoms but can lead to cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation

Question 7

Normal calcium levels

Answer 7

2.1-2.6 mmol/L

Question 8

Name, Cause and Result of decreased calcium levels

Answer 8

Hypocalcemia

Cause: vitamin D deficiency, acute pancreatitis, low blood albumin/magnesium, increased urine excretion, respiratory acidosis)

Result : prolonged QT on ECG

Question 9

Name, Cause and Result of increased calcium levels

Answer 9

Hypercalcemia

Cause: malignancy, Paget’s disease, osteoporosis, immobilization, renal failure)

Result: stones (kidney), groans (general pain), bones (muscular weakness and subsequent bone loss), thrones (constipation) & psychiatric overtones (decreased cognition), shortened QT on ECG

Question 10

Normal magnesium levels

Answer 10

0.7-1.0 mmol/L

Question 11

Name, Cause and Result of decreased magnesium levels

Answer 11

Hypomagnesemia

Cause: diarrhea, renal disease, chronic alcoholism)

Result: muscle cramps, hyperactive reflexes, tremor, overall weakness

Question 12

Name cause and result of increased magnesium levels

Answer 12

Hypermagnesemia

Cause: renal failure, excessive intake

Result: nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness

Question 13

Levels of:

Fasting glucose -

Impaired glucose tolerance

Diabetes mellitus

Answer 13

fasting 3-5.5 mmol/L

5.5-7.8 impaired glucose tolerance

> 7.8 diagnostic of diabetes mellitus

Question 14

Name and result of increased glucose levels

Answer 14

Hyperglycaemia

• thirst, polyuria, dehydration, hypotension, tachycardia, drowsiness

Question 15

Name and result of decreased glucose levels

Answer 15

Hypoglycaemia

• fatigue, confusion, detachment, ataxia, blurred vision, dizziness, paresthesia, hemiparesis, convulsions, coma

Question 16

Normal albumin levels

Answer 16

36-50g/L

Question 17

Cause and result of decreased albumin

Answer 17

Cause: malnutrition, malabsorption, severe liver disease, renal disease, GI conditions causing excessive loss, thyrotoxicosis, chemotherapy, Cushing’s disease

Result: edema

Question 18

Cause of increased albumin

Answer 18

relative increase with hemoconcentration (ie. severe loss of water)

Question 19

Normal RBC levels

Answer 19

♂ 4.5-6.5 / ♀ 3.5-5.8 ( x 1012/L)

Question 20

Result of decreased RBCs

Answer 20

anemia, leukemia, hemorrhage, chronic infection

Question 21

Result of increased RBCs

Answer 21

polycythemia, renal disorders, decreased plasma volume (ie. severe burns, shock, vomiting)

Question 22

Normal hemoglobin levels

Answer 22

♂ 13-18 / ♀ 12-16

Question 23

Cause and result of decrease hemoglobin

Answer 23

Cause: anemia, hyperthyroidism, liver/kidney disease)

result: fatigue, dizziness, headache, lack of concentration

Question 24

Cause of increased hemoglobin levels

Answer 24

hemoconcentration disorders (ie. burns, polycythemia, COPD, CCF)

Question 25

Normal WBC levels

Answer 25

4.0-11.0 (x 109/L)

Question 26

Result of decreased WBC levels

Answer 26

increased risk of bruising, use appropriate infection control, may fatigue easily

Question 27

Normal levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils

Answer 27

• Neutrophils – 2.5-7.5
• Lymphocytes – 1-3.5
• Monocytes – 0.2-0.8
• Eosinophils – 0.04-0.4
• Basophils – 0.01-0.1

Question 28

Normal platelet levels

Answer 28

150-400 ( x 109/L)

Question 29

Cause and results of decrease platelet levels

Answer 29

Cause: Thrombocytopenia (toxic effects of drugs (ie. chemotherapy), allergies, anemias, viral infections)

Result: spontaneous bleeding and bruising