Clinical Chemistry Flashcards
Anorexia, nausea, malaise, headache, irritability, confusion, weakness, seizures, cardiac failure, oedema
Hyponatraemia
Lethargy, thirst, weakness, irritability, confusion, coma, fits + signs of dehydration
Hypernatraemia
Muscle weakness, hypotonia, hyporeflexia, cramps, tetany, palpitations, arrhythmia
Hypokalaemia
Fast irregular pulse, chest pain, weakness, palpitations, light-headedness
Hyperkalaemia
Small/inverted T waves, prominent U waves, prolonged PR, depressed ST
Hypokalaemia
Tall tented T waves, small P waves, broad QRS, ventricular fibrillation
Hyperkalaemia
Causes of Hypokalaemia (7)
Diuretics D&V Cushing’s/steroids/ACTH Conn’s syndrome Alkalosis Bulimia Renal tubular failure
Hypokalaemia treatment
Oral K
Causes of hyperkalaemia
Oliguric renal failure K-sparing diuretics Rhabdomyolysis Metabolic acdisosis Addison’s Burns ACE-I
Hyperkalaemia treatment
Underlying cause
Causes of Hypernatraemia
Water loss in excess of Na loss
Diarrhoea, vomiting, burns Excess Saline Diabetes insipidus Osmotic diuresis Primary aldosteronism
Hypernatraemia Treatment
Give water po or 5% dextrose IV
Signs of Hypocalcaemia
SPASMODIC
S- Spasms P- Periorbital parasthesiae A- Anxious, irritable S- Seizures M- muscle tone increased in smooth muscle (colic, wheeze, dysphagia) O- orientation impaired, confusion D- dermatitis I- impetigo herpetiformis C- chvostek's sign
Hypercalcaemia Signs (11)
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Polyuria/polydipsia
- Depression
- Anorexia, Weight loss
- Tiredness, Weakness
- HTN
- Confusion
- Renal stones/failure
- Ectopic calcification
Causes of Hypercalcaemia (9)
- Malignancy
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Renal failure
- Addison’s
- TB
- Vitamin D overdose
- Raynaud’s
- Muscle tumour
- Endocrine tumours
