title: Hypocalcemic crisis.
abstract: Calcium is an essential ion for normal cardiovascular and other organ functions. Direct ionized calcium measurement is the best method for diagnosing hypocalcemia in critically ill patients. The presence of ionized hypocalcemia implies a defect in the parathyroid-vitamin D axis. Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment of this disorder may be life saving.
authors.affiliation: Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Zaloga
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium