Clinical biochemistry Flashcards
What is the serum portion of blood?
Liquid portion of blood after clotted- preferred sample type in many cases
What is the plasma of blood?
Blood prevented from clotting with an anticoagulent
What are some examples of immunoassay tests?
Thyroid function, tumour markers
What is hyonatraemia and what are the symptoms?
When the concentration of sodium in the blood is abnormally low.
Symptoms- headache, nausea, lethargy, confusion and muscle cramps
What is hypernatraemia?
When the concentration of sodium in the blood is abnormally high
What are some causes of hypernatraemia?
Free fluid losses (diuretics), diabetes insipidus, hypertonic- cushings syndrome or too much sodium in drip saline
What is hyperkalaemia and what are the symptoms and causes?
High blood potassium
Symptoms- weakness, nausea, muscle pain, difficulty breathing and palpitations
Causes- diuretics, acidosis, trauma, hyperglycaemia, beta blockers
What is hypokalaemia and what are the symptoms and causes?
Low blood potassium
Symptoms- excess thirst and polyuria as can impair ability of kidneys to concentrate urine. Also weakness, irregular heartbeat, nausea, muscle weakness
Causes- excessive loss through renal or GI, hyperaldosteronism, bartters syndrome, inadequate intake, refeeding syndrome, metabolic acidosis
What is urea and creatinine testing used for?
Urea is an insensitive marker but can be raised in high protein diets, GI bleeds and kidney dysfunction
Creatinine is affected by muscle mass, filtered in the kidneys in glomerulus and is a good sign of kidney function.
What is eGFR?
The estimated amount of blood that is filtered per minute. When a persons kidney function declines due to damage or disease, the filtration rate decreases and waste products begin to accumulate in blood.
What would be tested in bone profile testing and why?
-Calcium (adjusted)
-phosphate- bone health, muscle function
-alkaline phosphatase- also liver function
-magnesium
-vit D- deficiency can impair calcium
-PTH- regulates calcium but unstable marker
What are the causes of hypercalcaemia?
malignancy when metasitised to bone, hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, hyperthyroidism and bone breaks
What are the causes of hypocalcaemia?
Hypoparathyroidism, vit d or magnesium deficiency, CKD
What would you test when testing liver?
Total protein, albumin, globulins, ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, bilirubin
