Hypocalcemia

Hypocalcaemia, Hypocalcemia, Low calcium level

Calcium (Ca²⁺)

Hypoparathyroidism - Ca²⁺ remains in the bones and is not released into the blood
DiGeorge syndrome - a rare genetic disorder affecting the development of organs in the neck, including the parathyroid glands, leading to hypoparathyroidism
Pseudohypoparathyroidism - cells do not respond to parathyroid hormone, causing a relative deficiency of the hormone
Vitamin D deficiency - Ca²⁺ is not absorbed from the intestine in the absence of vitamin D
Chronic kidney disease - a complex pathophysiological mechanism, initially causing hypocalcemia, later leading to hypercalcemia
Hyperventilation - during deep and rapid breathing, Ca²⁺ binds to blood proteins, causing a relative deficiency of Ca²⁺. The patient experiences cramps. The condition quickly resolves after stopping hyperventilation
Severe acute pancreatitis - released pancreatic enzymes break down fats into fatty acids, which form salts with Ca²⁺, reducing Ca²⁺ levels. The same mechanism causes hypomagnesemia
Metastases - some bone metastases cause new bone formation that consumes Ca²⁺, mainly prostate cancer metastases. In contrast, breast cancer metastases break down Ca²⁺ from the bone, causing hypercalcemia

Hypocalcemia (1.4 mmol/l)

Hypocalcemia (1.32 mmol/l)

Hypocalcemia (1.2 mmol/l)

Sources

Hypocalcaemia, Hypocalcemia, Low calcium level

Hypoparathyroidism - Ca²⁺ remains in the bones and is not released into the blood
DiGeorge syndrome - a rare genetic disorder affecting the development of organs in the neck, including the parathyroid glands, leading to hypoparathyroidism
Pseudohypoparathyroidism - cells do not respond to parathyroid hormone, causing a relative deficiency of the hormone
Vitamin D deficiency - Ca²⁺ is not absorbed from the intestine in the absence of vitamin D
Chronic kidney disease - a complex pathophysiological mechanism, initially causing hypocalcemia, later leading to hypercalcemia
Hyperventilation - during deep and rapid breathing, Ca²⁺ binds to blood proteins, causing a relative deficiency of Ca²⁺. The patient experiences cramps. The condition quickly resolves after stopping hyperventilation
Severe acute pancreatitis - released pancreatic enzymes break down fats into fatty acids, which form salts with Ca²⁺, reducing Ca²⁺ levels. The same mechanism causes hypomagnesemia
Metastases - some bone metastases cause new bone formation that consumes Ca²⁺, mainly prostate cancer metastases. In contrast, breast cancer metastases break down Ca²⁺ from the bone, causing hypercalcemia