title: ECG diagnosis: The effect of ionized serum calcium levels on electrocardiogram.
abstract: High and low levels of ionized serum calcium concentration can produce characteristic changes on the electrocardiogram. These changes are almost entirely limited to the duration of the ST segment, with no change in the QRS complexes or T waves. High ionized serum calcium shortens the ST segment, and low ionized serum calcium prolongs the ST segment. Two common clinical scenarios are presented.
authors.affiliation: Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at Georgia Regents University: Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. jongardner@gru.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Cardiology at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center and Georgia Regents University: Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. joe.calkins2@va.gov.
authors.forename: Joe B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Calkins
authors.affiliation: Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Section of Cardiology at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center and Georgia Regents University: Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. glen.garrison@va.gov.
authors.forename: Glen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Garrison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium