calcium level in pancreatitis

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I was in clinical one day and noticed that calcium level above 8 was related to a poor outcome for pancreatitis. Does anyone know why?

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Calcium metabolism is altered with pancreatitis. In fact, hypocalcemia is a poor prognostic sign versus hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia with pancreatitis should indicate an unusual cause. Google Ransons criteria for more information.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I was in clinical one day and noticed that calcium level above 8 was related to a poor outcome for pancreatitis. Does anyone know why?

A calcium level above 8 is what we typically call normal.

The reason hypocalcemia is an indicator is because the breakdown of the pancreas results in fatty acids that chelate calcium salts, essentially resulting into calcium soap deposits in your abdomen. Yes, soap.

The worse the destruction of the pancreas, the more profound such soaping will be. Obviously, your serum level plunges.

Also, many patients with pancreatitis are filthy alcoholics and have malnutrition as a prexisting. Low serum albumin = low serum calcium.

when in doubt, ionize.

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"filthy alcoholics?" ha ha..how about just alcoholics :)

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Specializes in Critical Care.
"filthy alcoholics?" ha ha..how about just alcoholics :)

Filthy is an adjective describing not the patient but the severity of the alcoholism.

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Oh..I never heard of that. I wondered though because that term did seem out of place in your otherwise educational post. Thanks!

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