Abstract
Plasma ionized calcium [Ca++] concentrations are decreased in patients having lactic acidosis. To further investigate this observation, we prospectively studied nine critically ill patients who had lactic acidosis and measured arterial pH, PCO2, [Ca++], lactate, and albumin concentrations. We found a strong association between decreased [Ca++] and increased plasma lactate concentrations (r 2=0.78,p≤0.001). This unexpected association — [Ca++] usually increases with increasing acidosis — might be clinically important and the mechanism deserves further investigation.
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Sources of support: BC Heart Foundation; BC Health Care Research Foundation; Canadian Heart Foundation
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Cooper, D.J., Walley, K.R., Dodek, P.M. et al. Plasma ionized calcium and blood lactate concentrations are inversely associated in human lactic acidosis. Intensive Care Med 18, 286–289 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01706475
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01706475