Hypercalcemia
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Basics
Description
- Severity depends on serum calcium level and rate of increase
- 0.1–1% of patients on routine screening
- Most cases mild (<12 mg/dL) and asymptomatic
- Hypercalcemic crisis, usually >14 mg/dL, causes serious signs and symptoms
- Calcium in bloodstream in 3 forms:
- Ionized: 50%
- Bound to protein (primarily albumin): 40%
- Bound to other anions: 10%
- Ionized calcium – only physiologically active form
Etiology
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Malignancy
- Previous 2 account for 80% of cases
- Miscellaneous
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Basics
Description
- Severity depends on serum calcium level and rate of increase
- 0.1–1% of patients on routine screening
- Most cases mild (<12 mg/dL) and asymptomatic
- Hypercalcemic crisis, usually >14 mg/dL, causes serious signs and symptoms
- Calcium in bloodstream in 3 forms:
- Ionized: 50%
- Bound to protein (primarily albumin): 40%
- Bound to other anions: 10%
- Ionized calcium – only physiologically active form
Etiology
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Malignancy
- Previous 2 account for 80% of cases
- Miscellaneous
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