hypercalcaemia
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A medical condition characterized by an abnormally high concentration of calcium in the blood serum. This condition is typically a result of another underlying disease process, such as overactive parathyroid glands or bone disorders, rather than a primary disease itself.
Usage
- Hypercalcaemia is a medical term used primarily in clinical, diagnostic, and biochemical contexts. It describes a laboratory finding and a pathological state.
- It is often discussed in relation to its causes, symptoms (e.g., fatigue, confusion, kidney stones), and necessary treatments.
Examples
- The patient's lethargy and nausea were found to be due to hypercalcaemia.
- Routine blood tests revealed asymptomatic hypercalcaemia, prompting further investigation.
- Severe hypercalcaemia is a medical emergency that requires hospitalization.
Advanced Usage
- "Hypercalcaemia of malignancy": A specific and common cause of hypercalcaemia in cancer patients, where tumors produce substances that lead to excessive calcium release from bones.
- The condition can be described by its severity: , , or hypercalcaemia.
Variants and Related Words
- Hypercalcemia (noun): The American English spelling of the same condition.
- Hypercalcaemic (adjective): Relating to or affected by hypercalcaemia. (e.g., a state).
- Hypocalcaemia (noun): The opposite condition, defined by an abnormally level of calcium in the blood.
Synonyms
- High blood calcium: A plain-language synonym describing the condition without using the medical term.
Different Meanings
- Hypercalcaemia has only one specific meaning in medical English. It does not have general or figurative uses outside of describing this biochemical abnormality.
Noun
- the presence of abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood; usually the result of excessive bone resorption in hyperparathyroidism or Paget's disease