Chronic alcoholism: a predisposing factor for hypocalcemia in acute pancreatitis.
The serum levels of calcium, corrected for serum albumin, were investigated in 65 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis. Hypocalcemia was present in 55% of 38 patients in whom chronic alcoholism was the associated etiology, and in 26% of 27 other patients (p less than 0.02). In the alcoholic patients, the mean duration of hypocalcemia was significantly longer than in the non-alcoholic patients (5 vs. 1--2 days; p less than 0.001). The severity of pancreatitis seemed to be comparable in both groups of patients. This suggests that chronic alcoholism may be a predisposing factor for hypocalcemia in acute pancreatitis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology*