Ionized calcium

What is ionized calcium?

Calcium is one of the chemical elements found in the human body. Its various tasks depend on the form in which it is currently – bound or free. In its bound form, calcium is part of larger chemical compoundsand its mainfunction is to build skeletal bones and teeth(in the form of hydroxyapatite). If calcium occurs as a single atom, were talking about free – or (as it naturally has an electric charge) ionized calcium. This is the most biologically active form of this element and somers of the many functions it performs are:

• participation in blood clotting processes
• regulation of muscle contraction, including heart muscle
• participation in nerve conduction occurring between neurons
• control of the body's electrolyte balance
• participation in endocrine regulation processes

Calcium is also an essential element in the synthesis of somes compoundss in the human body and acts as an activator of somes enzymess, i.e. substances thatre accelerate the occurrence of certain chemical reactions.

Ionized calcium – when to test?

Ionized calcium accounts for about half of the total calcium found in the body. The ionized calcium test measures the concentration of this element present in the patient's blood, or more specifically, in his plasma.

The ionized calcium test is used to measure the concentration of calcium present in the patient's blood

This test is useful as part of a broader diagnostic panel aimed at clarifying a patient's symptomsthat may result from low levels of calcium in the body. Determination of ionized calcium concentrations can often be more effective than determination of total calcium, since even with adequate levels of total calcium, a patient can still develop symptoms resulting from deficiencies in this element, as only the ionized form can properly perform its functions in the body.

The patient's condition may be due to low levels of calcium in the body

Inadequate levels of ionized calcium can have many causes, examples of which include:

• abnormal function of the kidneys (resulting in too much or too little of this element being excreted in the urine)
• excessive use of calcium in the body relative to the intake of calcium from food (nutritional deficiencies)
• disturbances in the levelsof hormonesresponsible for regulating calcium concentrations
• too high/too low calcium release from bones

Each of these causes can have different causes (e.g., hyperparathyroidism, nephritis, tumors of the thyroid and many others), which require additional tests, including often imaging studies, to diagnose.

Ionized calcium – who should perform it?

Blood ionized calcium testing should be performed when there are symptoms of abnormal levelsof this form of the element.

The most common symptomsof excessively high levelsof calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) include:

• frequent urination
• increased thirst
• development of kidney stones
• heart rhythm disturbances
• abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
• general deterioration of mood
• faster fatigue
• constipation
• feeling of disorientation, confusion
• ble headaches
• insomnia

The most common symptoms of reduced blood calcium concentrations (hypocalcemia) are:

• tetany – a medical symptom consisting of excessive, overly strong contraction of skeletal muscles
• ble abdomen
• heart rhythm disturbances
• deterioration of mood
• lightheadedness

Ionized calcium results

Anomalous concentrations of ionized calcium as a stand-alone result do not provide much diagnostically useful information – they can confirm the sourceof certain symptomsin a given patient, but it is always necessary to perform further diagnostics to determine the cause of abnormal levelsof ionized calcium in the blood.

Some of the tests used for this purpose include hormonal tests (especially parathormone and calcitonin), determinations of electrolytes excreted with urine, and imaging studies, once the source of these disorders has been determined in order to assess the normal appearance of the organ.

For this reason, the results of this examination should always be consulted with a physician, as they should be compared with other information received, symptoms presented by the patient and his medical history in order to plan the most optimal further therapeutic – diagnostic management.