Hypocalcemia

Hypocalcemia refers to an abnormal decrease in serum ionized calcium concentration. However, because only total calcium is generally measured clinically, a lower total calcium level is also called hypocalcemia. The decrease in total blood calcium can occur during hypoproteinemia, and does not necessarily reflect the decrease in ionic calcium. Therefore, the decrease in blood calcium is not necessarily consistent with the decrease in ionic calcium, but in general, the two are consistent. When the serum protein concentration is normal, when the blood calcium is lower than 2.2mmol / L, it is called hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia generally means that free calcium is below normal. In the case of acidosis or hypoalbuminemia, only protein-bound calcium is reduced; on the other hand, in alkalosis or hyperproteinemia, although free calcium is reduced, but protein-bound calcium is increased, so serum calcium is still normal.