Kidneys play vital role in regulating and balancing phosphorus and calcium in the blood. Kidney functions are severely damaged in renal failure that patients often have metabolic disorder of phosphorus and calcium---high serum phosphorus and low serum calcium.
Serum calcium level lower than 2.1-2.2mmol/L is called hypocalcemia. Usually patients have no obvious clinical symptoms. However if calcium concentration in the blood drops too fast or if hypocalcemia lasts for long time, it can cause serious nervous and cardiovascular lesions and in serious conditions it can be life-threatening.
There are several reasons why renal failure can cause hypocalcemia. In renal failure, the absorption of calcium in the gastrointestinal tract will decrease; renal failure can cause decreased excretion of phosphorus and high phosphorus in the blood can further worsen hypocalcemia; renal failure patients often have acidosis which can promote the discharge of calcium from the kidneys.
Hypocalcemia can cause osteoporosis, bone fracture and other bone problems which is very common especially among the elderly patients. Proper measures should be taken to treat hypocalcemia including treating the underlying disease, that is renal failure. Have high-calcium foods and calcium supplements if necessary. Have proper and regular exercises and have some sunshine everyday.
Of cause, renal failure may not be the cause or may not be the only cause of hypocalcemia. The following illness conditions may cause or worsen hypocalcemia, therefore it is very necessary to check if these factors exist before prescribing drugs and designing treatment plan. Hypoparathyroidism, whether primary or secondary, deficiency of vitamin D, malignant tumors, some certain drugs can all be possible causes.
While treating hypocalcemia, it is very important to have regular blood tests to have close monitoring of blood calcium and blood phosphorus levels so that to prevent over-supply of calcium, that is hypercalcemia.
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