[Calcium blood changes in septic conditions. A review]

Hypocalcemia has been reported in critically ill patients over the last 10-15 years, however, measurements of Ca2+ in blood have not yet became routine in the treatment of severely ill patients. In order to stress the importance of calcium in such patients, a review of calcium changes in septic conditions is presented. In vitro studies show that the intracellular calcium metabolism is disturbed in these patients, and that the changes in extracellular calcium are probably secondary to the intracellular changes. Parathyroid hormone secretion is inappropriate in septic patients. The reason for this is unknown. Administration of calcium parenterally does not seem to affect the prognosis, however calcium seems to be beneficial in patients with hypotension. Since the level of Ca2+ in blood may have prognostic significance in septic patients, measurements of Ca2+ in blood should be used routinely in these patients, in order to point out "risk" patients as early as possible.