An 80-year-old nursing home resident is brought to the ED af…

An 80-year-old nursing home resident is brought to the ED after two days of worsening confusion and decreased mobility. Vitals: T 37.2°C, HR 92, BP 118/60, SpO₂ 91% on room air. He denies cough or dysuria, and physical exam is nonspecific. Labs show WBC 9.8, creatinine 1.6 (baseline 1.0). Chest X-ray reveals right lower lobe infiltrate. Which of the following best explains this clinical presentation?

A patient presents with muscle cramps, perioral numbness, an…

A patient presents with muscle cramps, perioral numbness, and a positive Trousseau sign. Another patient presents with polyuria, constipation, and confusion. Which of the following laboratory and clinical findings best differentiates hypocalcemia from hypercalcemia, and what is the most appropriate initial diagnostic evaluation for each?

A 72-year-old woman with advanced chronic kidney disease is…

A 72-year-old woman with advanced chronic kidney disease is admitted for evaluation of altered mental status. Her laboratory results reveal a total serum calcium of 8.2 mg/dL (reference range: 8.5–10.5 mg/dL), albumin of 2.0 g/dL (reference range: 3.5–5.0 g/dL), and ionized calcium of 1.10 mmol/L (reference range: 1.20–1.40 mmol/L). Which of the following statements best describes the physiological significance of her calcium results?