endocrine and metabolic disorders
Hypocalcemia
Introduction
Hypocalcemia is a total serum calcium concentration<8.8 mg/dL (<2.20 mmol/L) in the presence of normal plasma protein concentrations or a serum ionized calcium concentration<4.7 mg/dL (<1.17 mmol/L). Causes include hypoparathyroidism,vitamin Ddeficiency, and renal disease. Manifestations include paresthesias, tetany, and, when severe, seizures, encephalopathy, and heart failure. Diagnosis involves measurement of serum calcium with adjustment for serumalbuminconcentration. Treatment is administration of calcium, sometimes withvitamin D. (See also Overview of Overview of Disorders of Calcium Concentration and 