What is the normal range of serum calcium?
The parathyroid glands can be thought of as the “calcium thermostat” of the body.
| Lab | Normal range (conventional units) |
|---|---|
| Calcium (serum) | 8.6-10.3 mg/dL |
| Calcium (ionized) | 4.4-5.2 mg/dL |
| PTH (parathyroid hormone) | 11-51 pg/mL |
| Creatinine (marker of kidney function) | 0.6-1.3 mg/dL |
What does serum calcium indicate?
Definition: Serum calcium is a blood test to measure the amount of calcium in the blood. Serum calcium is usually measured to screen for or monitor bone diseases or calcium-regulation disorders (diseases of the parathyroid gland or kidneys).
What happens when serum calcium levels are low?
What happens when calcium levels are low? Hypocalcemia, also known as calcium deficiency disease, occurs when the blood has low levels of calcium. A long-term calcium deficiency can lead to dental changes, cataracts, alterations in the brain, and osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become brittle.
What is a dangerously low calcium level?
Sustained low calcium levels in your blood may confirm a diagnosis of calcium deficiency disease. Normal calcium levels for adults can range from 8.8 to 10.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), according to the Merck Manual. You may be at risk for calcium deficiency disease if your calcium level is below 8.8 mg/dL.
What is a critical low calcium level?
Severe hypocalcemia, defined by a serum calcium <1.9 mmol/L (7.6 mg/dL), is often considered an emergency because of a potential risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias or seizures (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11).
What causes calcium levels to rise?
Hypercalcemia is usually a result of overactive parathyroid glands. These four tiny glands are situated in the neck, near the thyroid gland. Other causes of hypercalcemia include cancer, certain other medical disorders, some medications, and taking too much of calcium and vitamin D supplements.
What level of calcium is dangerously low?
You may be at risk for calcium deficiency disease if your calcium level is below 8.8 mg/dL.
Does Vit D increase serum calcium?
Vitamin D has several roles in our bodies, but its main role is to help us keep our calcium levels up. It helps our intestine to absorb calcium from the foods we eat, thus increasing the amount of calcium in our bodies.
What do you need to know about serum calcium?
Serum calcium is a laboratory test to measure the amount of calcium in your blood. Calcium is absorbed into the bloodstream from the food you eat. The bones and teeth are the storerooms for calcium. Calcium is also needed to help many other systems (parts) in your body work well. Why do I need it?
What is the normal level of calcium in the blood?
Normal Blood Calcium Levels in Humans. In our bodies, calcium is a mineral that makes up our bones, as well as a salt that dissolves in our blood and regulates bodily function. At UCLA, the normal range for blood calcium level is 8.6 to 10.3 mg/dL.
What should your serum calcium level be to be asymptomatic?
Although serum calcium levels above 11.5 mg/dL commonly cause symptoms, patients may be asymptomatic at this level. Critical levels are reached above 12 mg/dL, with levels above 15 mg/dL (severe hypercalcemia) being a medical emergency.
What should serum calcium level be for bone lesions?
Assessment of ionized calcium would be useful in such patients. It should be emphasized that these patients frequently have bone lesions, which leads to release of calcium from the damaged bone tissue. Although serum calcium levels above 11.5 mg/dL commonly cause symptoms, patients may be asymptomatic at this level.