Calcium deficiency (Q39937)

Hypocalcaemia is defined as a total serum calcium concentration of less than 8.4 mg/dl (2.1 mmol/litre) or an ionized calcium concentration of less than 4.48 mg/dl (1.12 mmol/litre). There are numerous causes of hypocalcaemia, chronic kidney disease being the most common cause. Other causes are: vitamin D deficiency, disorders associated with acquired or genetichypoparathyroidism , including intravenous bisphosphonate therapy, post-thyroidectomy and post-parathyroidectomy, and acute pancreatitis. Hypocalcaemia may be associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from few symptoms if the hypocalcaemia is mild, to life-threatening seizures, refractory heart failure, or laryngospasm if it is severe. In addition to severity, the rate of development of hypocalcaemia and chronicity determine the clinical manifestations.