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Hypo- and Hypercalcemia

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Handbook of Evidence-Based Critical Care

Abstract

Calcium is a critical intracellular messenger and regulator of cell function. Calcium is essential for excitation–contraction coupling in muscle, neurotransmission, cell division, hormonal release, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and numerous other activities. Although these functions are usually beneficial, calcium also regulates processes that can injure and kill cells such as digestive enzyme activation, cytokine release, free radical production, inhibition of ATP synthesis, and vasoconstriction. Thus, calcium is truly a double-edged sword.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Paul Ellis Marik MBBCh, FCP(SA), FRCP(C), FCCP, FCCM, FACP, MD

Authors
  1. Paul Ellis Marik MBBCh, FCP(SA), FRCP(C), FCCP, FCCM, FACP, MD
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Correspondence to Paul Ellis Marik MBBCh, FCP(SA), FRCP(C), FCCP, FCCM, FACP, MD .

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Marik, P.E. (2010). Hypo- and Hypercalcemia. In: Handbook of Evidence-Based Critical Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5923-2_41

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5923-2_41

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5922-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-5923-2

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