Calcium Imbalances: Causes and Manifestations

    • Nursing implementation
      • Treat cause
      • Oral or IV calcium supplements
      • Rebreathe into paper bag
      • Treat pain and anxiety to prevent hyperventilation-induced respiratory alkalosis

Calcium Imbalances: Causes and Manifestations

Hypercalcemia (Ca2+ >10.2 mg/dL [2.55 mmol/L])

Hypocalcemia (Ca2+ <8.6 mg/dL [2.15 mmol/L])

Cause

  • Increased Total Calcium
  • Decreased Total Calcium
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Primary hypoparathyroidism
  • Hematologic malignancy
  • Renal insufficiency
  • Malignancies with bone metastasis
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Prolonged immobilization
  • Elevated phosphorus
  • Vitamin A or D overdose
  • Vitamin D deficiency, malnutrition
  • Paget’s disease
  • Magnesium deficiency
  • Adrenal insufficiency
  • Bisphosphonates
  • Thyrotoxicosis
  • Tumor lysis syndrome
  • Thiazide diuretics
  • Loop diuretics
  • Milk-alkali syndrome
  • Chronic alcoholism
  • Calcium-containing antacids
  • Diarrhea
  • Mycobacterium infection
  • Decreased Serum albumin

Increased Ionized Calcium

Decreased Ionized Calcium

  • Acidosis
  • Alkalosis
  • Excess administration of citrated blood

ECG changes

  • Shortened ST segment
  • Elongation of ST segment
  • Shortened QT interval
  • Prolonged QT interval
  • Ventricular dysrhythmias
  • Ventricular tachycardia
  • Increased digitalis effect

Share:

More Posts

Cerebral Aneurysms

ON THIS PAGE What is a cerebral aneurysm? Who is more likely to get a cerebral aneurysm? How are cerebral aneurysms diagnosed and treated? What

Learn How To Control Asthma

On This Page What is Asthma? How Can You Tell if You Have Asthma? What Is an Asthma Attack? What Causes an Asthma Attack? How