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Biomedical subjects

L J Drop

Publications and source records attributed to L J Drop.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Determination of blood ionized calcium in a large segment of the normal adult population.

In two different laboratories ionized calcium was determined by use of a calcium selective electrode system of recent design in specimens of whole blood drawn from a total of 100 volunteers. Identical mean values were obtained in each laboratory. A small standard deviation was found supporting the view that [Ca2+] is normally maintained within a narrow range. Ancillary factors in [Ca2+] determination were evaluated, including effects of in-vivo produced changes in pH, and effects of addition of small amounts of heparin to the whole blood sample. A veno-arterial difference in [Ca2+] was insignificant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Low plasma ionized calcium and response to calcium therapy in critically ill man.

Marked lowering of plasma ionized calcium concentrations [Ca++] occurred in eight patients (2 days to 54 years old) who required extensive pharmacologic support of the circulation. [Ca++]'s ranged from 0.21 to 0.53 mM. Only one patient survived. The hypocalcemia occurred in the absence of massive transfusion of citrated whole blood or well after such transfusions had been discontinued. These abnormally low concentrations of ionized calcium were not readily corrected by intravenous administration of calcium salts in doses generally recommended. The process responsible for inadequate hemodynamic function appeared to be associated with a severe disturbance in calcium metabolism. Contribution of the latter to the severity of hemodynamic deterioration is unclear, and little benefit from intravenous calcium therapy was found. In two patients, normal [Ca++] could not be restored by administration of CaCl2 alone, but [Ca++] rose to normal following continued calcium replacement therapy in conjunction with increased isoproterenol infusion. There was no predictable relationship between total and ionized plasma calcium concentrations. Thus, measurement of total calcium provided no indication of the level of the biologically active moiety. [Ca++] was low with both normal and low plasma pH values. The data suggest that a very high infusion rate of CaCl2 may required to restore [Ca++] to normal and that hypocalcemia occurring during low-flow states often cannot be corrected by calcium therapy alone. It is recommended that calcium replacement therapy be undertaken only with close monitoring of [Ca++].

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

The hypocalcemia of acute pancreatitis.

Variables of calcium metabolism were measured in 11 patients with clearly documented acute pancreatitis. Total and ionized calcium levels were either low or in the low-normal range as were phosphorus and total magnesium levels. Parathyroid hormone levels were high, and there was a significant inverse correlation with ionized calcium. Gastrin levels were normal, calcitonin values were uniformly below the detection limit of the assay, and pancreatic glucagon levels were elevated. The hypocalcemia of acute pancreatitis was probably not caused by abnormalities of glucagon, calcitonin, or gastrin secretion. Furthermore, parathyroid hormone secretion was apparently not impaired. Hypomagnesemia possibly played a minor role. This study suggests that the hypocalcemia of acute pancreatitis is secondary to extraskeletal calcium sequestration or an as yet unidentified defect of bone metabolism, or both.

Acute Disease↗