One of the complications of coronary angiography is a sudden and persistant fall in blood pressure. This may be due to the presence of calcium chelating agents in the vehicle of the radio-opaque compounds. Depressed ambient calcium levels are associated with decreased myocardial contractility and when low enough cause electromechanical dissociation. Simultaneous measurements of radial artery an...

BACKGROUND Low calcium dialysate with 1.25 mmol/l calcium concentration has been proposed to replace standard calcium dialysate in peritoneal dialysis patients taking calcium-containing phosphate binder to prevent hypercalcaemia. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate long term effects on mineral and bone metabolism by low versus standard calcium dialysate in peritoneal dialysis. METHOD Cli...

Background. Hyperparathyroidism is underdiagnosed in pregnancy, yet early diagnosis is necessary for the potentially severe sequelae of hypercalcemia for both the woman and fetus. Case. A 31-year-old, gravida 3, para 0-0-2-0 at 32 weeks and 3 days of gestation, presented with preeclampsia with severe features concomitant with acute pancreatitis and known diabetes mellitus type 2. She was stabil...

During pregnancy, maternal calcium needs increase as a result of increasing calcium requirements for fetal bone development. These needs have to be completely supplied by the mother via placental transfer. Several studies link low serum ionized calcium concentrations with the development of hypertension and pregnancy-induced hypertension. We hypothesized that maternal hypocalcemia would develop...

By analyzing whole blood containing no anticoagulants (uncoagulated whole blood) immediately after collection, we evaluated the relative changes in the concentrations of ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood collected in dry heparinized syringes and in serum prepared from blood collected in evacuated blood-collection tubes. Using these dry heparinized syringes, we collected and ...

Renal failure of 4 wk duration in rats led to parathyroid enlargement, increased bone resorption, and decreased tubular reabsorption of phosphate by the remnant kidney. The degree of hyperparathyroidism was influenced by each of the three dietary factors investigated. In the first study increasing calcium intake reduced the size of the parathyroids by increasing calcium and reducing phosphate a...

Total serum calcium, its fractions and serum citrate concentrations were measured in children receiving massive blood transfusion for scoliosis surgery, and in other children undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. During scoliosis surgery, although up to 100% of blood volume was replaced, and no additional calcium salts were infused, serum ionized calcium concentration remai...