Calcium basics
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. 1.5% of body weight; 99% is in bone matrix; 1100gramm (27mmol)
Category Electrolytes
Hypochloraemia
Hypochloraemia (<95) (Usually associated with sodium losses)
Hypermagnesaemia
Hypermagnesaemia: Serum Mg above normal range of 1.3-2.2 mEq/L; Rare and usually iatrogenic; ↑Magnesium is closely associated with ↑K and ↓Ca
Hyperkalaemia DDx
Overview Causes Increased potassium intake (rare) Increased release from tissues Decreased renal excretion Transcellular shift Factitious (Pseudo-hyperkalaemia) Drugs causing hyperkalaemia References and Links LITFL
Hypocalcaemia DDx
Causes of HYPOcalcaemia: Commonest causes: HYPOalbuminaemia and HYPERventilation
Cerebral Salt Wasting
Cerebral Salt Wasting: also now known as renal salt wasting; hyponatraemia not always required to make diagnosis, but often present; cerebral lesion + excess renal loss of Na+ and Cl-; cerebral lesions: SAH, TBI, tumour
Hypomagnesaemia
Hypomagnesaemia: Defined as serum magnesium < 0.75 mmol/L; associated with increased ICU mortality common — affects 10-65% of ICU patients
Magnesium
Magnesium: intracellular cation; hypomagnesaemia = common electrolyte abnormality in ICU
Hyperchloraemia
Hyperchloraemia is usually associated with sodium and inversely to HCO3