Chem path Flashcards
(170 cards)
Causes of hypokalaemia
-GI loss: vomiting, diarrhoea
- renal loss: hyperaldosteronism, thiazide and loop diuretics, renal tubular acidosis type 1 and 2
- redistribution into cells: insulin, b-blockers, refeeding syndrome
consequences of hypokalaemia
muscle weakness
nephrogenic DI (polyuria and polydipsia)
ECG changes: T wave flattening, U waves, arrhythmias
normal range of potassium
3.5-5.5mmo/L
investigations and management of hypokalaemia
U&Es
monitor ECG changes
aldosterone:renin ratio (if high suggests conn’s as high aldosterone will negatively feedback on renin)
K replacement:
3-3.5mmol/L –> Oral KCl (2 sandoK tablets, TDS for 48hrs)
<3mmol/L –> IV KCl (10mmol/hr) risk of cardicac arrest
Causes of hyperkalaemia
Artefact- haemolysis when taking blood
intracellular –> extracellular mvmt of K: DKA(insulin shortage), rhabdomyolysis, haemolysis
decreased excretion:
mineralocorticodeficiency (Addisons), K sparing diuretics, ACEi, ARBs, NASAIDs, renal tubular acidosis type 4
Describe the ECG changes in hyperkalaemia
Tall tented T waves
loss of P wave
widened QRS
arrhythmia
management of hyperkalaemia
- repeat bloods incase artefact
- 10mls 10% calcium gluconate (stabilise myocardium)
- 100mls 20% dextrose + 10units short acting insulin eg. actrapid (draws K into cells and dex to prevent hypo)
- nebulised salbutamol
- treat cause
acid- base balance: pCO2 and pH in each met/resp acidosis/ alkalosis
metabolic acidosis- pCO2 low, pH low
metabolic alkalosis - pCO2 high, pH high
respiratory acidosis - pCO2 high, low pH
respiratory alkalosis- pCO2 low, pH high
causes of each met/resp acidosis/ alkalosis
met acidosis:
DKA, renal tubular acidosis, addisons, lactate(shock, sepsis), aspirin, ETOH
met alkalosis
bicarbonate ingesion, Conns, vomiting, burns
resp acidosis
hypoventilation: COPD, opioids, sedatives
resp alkalosis
hyperventilation: panic disorder/ anxiety, asthma,
causes of metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap
KULT
Ketoacidosis
uraemia (renal failure)
lactate
toxins (alcohol, salicylate, mannitol)
equation to calculate the anion gap
normal range
anions- cations
(Na+K)- (Cl+HCO3)
normal range: 14-18mol/L
what is the best marker of liver function?
prothrombin time
causes of isolated raised ALP
physiological: pregnancy (ALPregnancy), growth spurths
pathological: osteoblast activation; Pagets disease, osteromalacia, cholestasis, cirrhosis
why is ALP normal in myeloma?
plasma cells suppress osteoblasts
osteoblast activation secretes ALP
Causes of low albumin
nephrotic syndrome
chronic liver disease
protein losing enteropathy
sepsis
raised GGT and ALP
cholestatic/ obstructive picture
raised GGT in alcoholic liver disease
raised AST:ALT 2:1
supportive alcoholic liver disease
remember ALT- Last in the ratio
raised AST:ALT 1:1
supportive of viral liver disease
ALT>AST
chronic liver disease
what is the INR
it is the prothrombin time (time for the production of thrombin) which has been standardised to age and population and expressed as a ratio of ‘normal’
which clotting factors does the liver synthesise
V, VII, IX, X, XII, XIII
causes of pre, hepatic and post hepatic jaundice
pre hepatic- haemolysis, congestive cardiac failure, thalassaemia
hepatic- viral/ alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, gilberts syndrome, crigler Najjar syndrome
post hepatic- primary biliary cholangitis, sclerosing cholestasis, gall stones, cancer of head of pancreas, cholangio carcinoma
features of acute porphryia
the P’s:
Painful abdomen
peripheral neuropathy
Psychosis
acute abdominal pain and neuropsychiatric Sx (eg. confusion, halluconations)
–> AIP until proven otherwise
HMB (hydroxymethylbilane) synthase deficiency leading to build up of porphobilinogen
what are porphryias
rare metabolic conditions where there is enzyme deficiencies in the haem biosynthesis leading to build up of toxic haem precursors