Aamir Ijaz, Tariq Mehmood, Waseem Saeed, Ayaz Hussain Qureshi, Muhammad Dilawar, Masood Anwar, Shujaat Hussain, Farooq Ahmad Khan, Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Dilshad Ahmad Khan.
Calcium abnormalities in pulmonary tuberculosis.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;43(4):177-80.

Objective: To study the disorders of calcium metabolism in patients with untreated pulmonary tuberculosis. Design: A cross-sectional comparative study. Places and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology Army Medical College and Department of Pulmonology MH Rawalpindi, Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology AFIP Rawalpindi from Jan 2002 to Jan 2003. Subjects & Methods: One hundred and fifty two patients of untreated pulmonary tuberculosis and forty four age and sex- matched disease free controls were included in the study. Blood ionized calcium (Ca++), pH, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were analyzed by ion selective electrode method on Easylyte® auto analyzer. Other related parameters were measured by colorimetric methods. Results: Blood Ca++ levels in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis were found (mean ± SD: 1.15±014 mmol/L) significantly low as compared to control subjects (mean ± SD: 1.23±0.03 mmol/L) (p<0.001). Fifty two (38%) subjects had hypocalcaemia while seven (5%) subjects were found to be falling in hypercalcaemic range. Serum phosphate levels were also low corresponding to Ca++ levels control (mean ± SD: 0.97±0.19 mmol/L vs 1.17±0.21 mmol/L; p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in other parameters e.g. albumin, urea, creatinine, pH, Na and K levels in study subjects and controls. Conclusion: Hypocalcaemia and hypophosphatemia are more prevalent in our population of untreated pulmonary tuberculosis.

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