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Short explanations Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Creatinine?

A

A waste product generated from muscle metabolism, filtered by the kidneys to assess renal function.

Creatinine is derived from the breakdown of creatine phosphate.

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2
Q

What does elevated CRP (C-Reactive Protein) levels indicate?

A

Inflammation or infection, used to monitor disease activity in various conditions.

Conditions include infections, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular risk.

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3
Q

What role does Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) play in the body?

A

Maintains acid-base balance as a component of the blood buffering system.

Low levels suggest metabolic acidosis; high levels may indicate metabolic alkalosis.

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4
Q

What is Hypergammaglobulinaemia?

A

An increase in gamma globulin levels in the blood, often due to chronic inflammation, infection, or plasma cell disorders.

Examples include multiple myeloma or chronic liver disease.

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5
Q

What can the measurement of enzymes in plasma indicate?

A

Biomarkers for organ damage.

Examples include ALT/AST for liver injury, CK-MB/Troponin for cardiac injury, and Amylase/lipase for pancreatic disorders.

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6
Q

What does urinary volume measurement help evaluate?

A

Kidney function, fluid balance, and endocrine disorders.

Abnormal volumes can indicate conditions like renal failure or diabetes insipidus.

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7
Q

What is LDL - Cholesterol commonly referred to as?

A

Bad cholesterol, as high levels contribute to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

LDL carries cholesterol to tissues and is a target for lipid-lowering therapy.

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8
Q

What is the purpose of corrected calcium measurement?

A

Accounts for serum albumin levels when interpreting calcium concentration.

Corrected Ca = Measured Ca + 0.02 × (40 - Albumin) (g/L).

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9
Q

What are Apolipoproteins?

A

Proteins that bind lipids to form lipoproteins, involved in lipid transport and metabolism.

Key examples include ApoA-I (associated with HDL) and ApoB (associated with LDL).

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10
Q

Define Isoenzymes.

A

Different molecular forms of an enzyme that catalyze the same reaction but differ in structure and tissue distribution.

Examples include CK-MB (heart) and CK-MM (muscle).

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11
Q

What is urate?

A

Urate (or uric acid) is the end-product of purine metabolism.

Elevated levels can lead to gout or renal stones. Measured to assess gout, kidney function, or tumor lysis syndrome.

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12
Q

What is alpha 1-antitrypsin?

A

A serine protease inhibitor that protects tissues from enzymes of inflammatory cells.

Deficiency can lead to early-onset emphysema and liver disease.

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13
Q

What does LDL stand for and what is its role?

A

Low-Density Lipoprotein carries cholesterol from the liver to peripheral tissues.

Often called “bad cholesterol” due to its role in plaque formation and cardiovascular disease.

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14
Q

What is transferrin?

A

An iron-binding glycoprotein that transports iron in the blood.

Used to assess iron status. Elevated in iron deficiency, decreased in chronic disease or malnutrition.

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15
Q

What is creatinine kinase (CK or CPK)?

A

An enzyme found in muscle, brain, and heart.

Elevated in muscle damage, myocardial infarction, and rhabdomyolysis. CK isoenzymes (CK-MB) help localize tissue injury.

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16
Q

What is gestational diabetes?

A

A form of glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy.

Increases the risk of complications for both mother and baby. Diagnosed via oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

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17
Q

What are natriuretic peptides?

A

Hormones released from the heart in response to ventricular stretch and volume overload.

BNP and NT-proBNP are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of heart failure.

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18
Q

What is gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)?

A

A liver enzyme involved in glutathione metabolism.

Elevated in cholestasis, alcohol use, and hepatic enzyme induction. Often used to confirm hepatic origin of raised ALP.

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19
Q

What is the coefficient of variation (CV)?

A

A measure of relative variability calculated as CV = (Standard Deviation / Mean) × 100.

Used in lab quality control to assess precision of assays — lower CV indicates better precision.

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20
Q

What is troponin?

A

A cardiac-specific protein released into blood following myocardial injury.

High-sensitivity troponin assays are the gold standard for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction.

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21
Q

Fill in the blank: Elevated levels of urate can lead to _______.

A

gout or renal stones

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22
Q

True or False: Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency can lead to early-onset emphysema.

A

True

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23
Q

Fill in the blank: LDL is often referred to as _______.

A

bad cholesterol

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24
Q

True or False: Transferrin is decreased in iron deficiency.

A

False

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25
What role does creatinine kinase (CK) play in muscle injury?
Elevated in muscle damage, myocardial infarction, and rhabdomyolysis.
26
What is Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)?
Measurement of drug concentrations in blood to maintain a therapeutic range ## Footnote Used for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, e.g., digoxin, lithium, anticonvulsants.
27
What are apolipoproteins?
Proteins that bind lipids to form lipoproteins ## Footnote ApoA-I is associated with HDL (protective) and ApoB is associated with LDL (atherogenic). Used in cardiovascular risk assessment.
28
What does creatinine clearance estimate?
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using serum and urine creatinine ## Footnote Reflects kidney function and is reduced in chronic kidney disease.
29
Define Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Progressive decline in kidney function over time ## Footnote Staged by eGFR and albuminuria, with lab findings including elevated urea, creatinine, and electrolyte imbalances.
30
What is hepatitis?
Inflammation of the liver, commonly due to viral infection ## Footnote Lab diagnosis involves ALT/AST elevation, bilirubin, and serological markers.
31
What is bilirubin?
A breakdown product of haemoglobin ## Footnote Unconjugated bilirubin is elevated in haemolysis, while conjugated is elevated in liver disease or bile duct obstruction.
32
What are control intervals used for?
Assessing if lab results are within acceptable variation ## Footnote Also called control limits, part of internal quality control (IQC).
33
How is the Coefficient of Variation (CV) calculated?
CV = (SD / Mean) × 100 ## Footnote A measure of assay precision; lower CV indicates better reproducibility.
34
What is gestational diabetes?
Glucose intolerance first detected during pregnancy ## Footnote Diagnosed via oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and increases risk for both mother and fetus.
35
What do aminotransferases (AST & ALT) indicate?
Hepatocellular injury ## Footnote ALT is more liver-specific while AST is also found in muscle, markedly elevated in acute hepatitis.
36
What does osmolality measure?
Solute concentration in plasma or urine ## Footnote Used in evaluating hyponatraemia, SIADH, and dehydration.
37
What is pseudohyponatraemia?
False low sodium reading due to hyperlipidaemia or hyperproteinaemia ## Footnote Occurs when using indirect ion-selective electrodes.
38
What are enzyme assays?
Tests measuring the activity or concentration of enzymes in blood ## Footnote Used to diagnose tissue damage (e.g., CK, ALT, LDH) or inborn errors of metabolism.
39
Define diagnostic sensitivity.
Ability of a test to correctly identify patients with the disease ## Footnote Used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of tests.
40
Define diagnostic specificity.
Ability of a test to correctly identify patients without the disease ## Footnote Used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of tests.
41
What are reference ranges?
The expected range of values in a healthy population ## Footnote Depends on age, sex, method used, and population sampled. Helps interpret lab test results.
42
What is TSH?
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone produced by the pituitary ## Footnote Regulates thyroid hormone production; elevated in hypothyroidism, suppressed in hyperthyroidism.
43
What is LDL?
Low-Density Lipoprotein, known as 'bad cholesterol' ## Footnote Carries cholesterol to peripheral tissues and high levels are linked to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
44
What is albumin?
Main plasma protein produced by the liver ## Footnote Maintains oncotic pressure and transports various substances; low in liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, and malnutrition.
45
What is Urea?
A nitrogenous waste product formed in the liver; excreted by the kidneys. Elevated in renal dysfunction, dehydration, or high protein catabolism. ## Footnote Urea plays a crucial role in the body's nitrogen balance.
46
What are Electrolytes?
Crucial for fluid balance, nerve conduction, and acid–base status. Measured in a basic metabolic panel. ## Footnote Key electrolytes include Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, and HCO₃⁻.
47
How is the Anion Gap calculated?
Na⁺ - (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻) ## Footnote Used to identify causes of metabolic acidosis like DKA and lactic acidosis.
48
What is the significance of Calcium (Total and Ionised)?
Essential for bone, nerve, and muscle function. Total Ca²⁺ is affected by albumin; Ionised Ca²⁺ is biologically active and abnormal in parathyroid disorders, CKD, malignancy. ## Footnote Ionised calcium is the form that participates in physiological functions.
49
What role does Phosphate (PO₄³⁻) play in the body?
Works with calcium in bone metabolism. Altered in CKD, vitamin D disorders, tumour lysis syndrome. ## Footnote Phosphate is critical for energy production and storage.
50
What is Cortisol?
Stress hormone produced by adrenal cortex. Measured in Cushing’s or Addison’s disease evaluation. ## Footnote Cortisol helps regulate metabolism and immune response.
51
What does HbA1c reflect?
Average blood glucose over ~3 months. Used for diabetes diagnosis and monitoring. ## Footnote HbA1c levels indicate long-term glucose control.
52
What is Insulin assessed for?
Hypoglycaemia workup and insulinoma. Can also be used to evaluate insulin resistance. ## Footnote Insulin is crucial for glucose metabolism.
53
What is the function of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)?
Regulates calcium and phosphate. Measured in hyperparathyroidism or hypocalcaemia. ## Footnote PTH plays a key role in maintaining calcium homeostasis.
54
What does BNP / NT-proBNP indicate?
Released from ventricles in response to stretch. Marker of heart failure. ## Footnote Elevated levels suggest cardiac stress or failure.
55
What is Lipoprotein (a)?
An independent cardiovascular risk factor; elevated in premature atherosclerosis. ## Footnote Lipoprotein (a) is a genetic risk factor for heart disease.
56
What does Myoglobin indicate?
Early marker of muscle injury; released quickly post-MI but non-specific. ## Footnote Myoglobin can also indicate other muscle-related injuries.
57
What is High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP)?
Low-level inflammation marker used in cardiovascular risk prediction. ## Footnote Elevated hs-CRP levels may indicate systemic inflammation.
58
What does Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) indicate when elevated?
Elevated in biliary obstruction, bone disease, or during pregnancy. ## Footnote ALP is important for diagnosing liver and bone disorders.
59
What is Alanine Transaminase (ALT)?
Liver-specific enzyme; elevated in hepatocellular damage. ## Footnote ALT is often used to assess liver health.
60
What does Aspartate Transaminase (AST) indicate?
Found in liver, muscle, and heart. Less specific than ALT. ## Footnote AST levels can indicate damage in multiple organ systems.
61
What does Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) indicate?
Indicates cholestasis and alcohol-related liver injury. ## Footnote GGT is often elevated in liver disease.
62
What is Total Protein?
Sum of albumin and globulins; altered in malnutrition, liver disease, or plasma cell disorders. ## Footnote Total protein levels provide insight into overall health.
63
What is the Osmolar Gap?
Difference between measured and calculated osmolality. Used to detect toxic alcohol ingestion. ## Footnote A high osmolar gap may indicate the presence of unmeasured solutes.
64
What does eGFR stand for?
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate. Calculated from creatinine, age, sex, and ethnicity. ## Footnote eGFR is used to assess kidney function.
65
What are Free Light Chains (FLC)?
Sensitive markers for plasma cell dyscrasias (e.g., myeloma). ## Footnote FLC tests are important in the diagnosis and monitoring of multiple myeloma.
66
What do TIBC and Ferritin assess?
Used to assess iron stores. ## Footnote Ferritin indicates storage form (low in iron deficiency); TIBC is high in iron deficiency.

Clinical Chemistry (26 decks)

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