…cell count plus albumin on the sample. Indications Diagnostic paracentesis: Newly detected ascites — always. Every admission of a patient with known ascites. Clinical deterioration in…

…transfusion in a patient without irregular red cell antibodies Serological crossmatch (MG test) Serological crossmatching between the recipient's plasma and the red cells of…

…crosses cell membranes relatively freely and therefore does not produce the same sustained shift of water [3]. Severity of DKA The classification helps in choosing…

…amyloidosis [8, 15]. AL Amyloidosis: This is a plasma cell dyscrasia in which abnormal plasma cells produce misfolded immunoglobulin light chains [8, 19]. Light chains…

…Nicardipine inhibits the influx of extracellular calcium in the myocardial and peripheral vascular smooth muscle cell membranes, thus inhibiting the contraction of smooth muscle cells…

…Nicardipine inhibits the influx of extracellular calcium in the myocardial and peripheral vascular smooth muscle cell membranes, thus inhibiting the contraction of smooth muscle cells…

…hyperaldosteronism or Conn syndrome, comprises disorders in which aldosterone secretion is inappropriately increased, relatively autonomous from angiotensin II and plasma potassium, and resistant to suppression…

…in marked hyperkalaemia if there is no contraindication. 5. At the same time, start treatment that eliminates potassium from the body. 6. Check the plasma…

…called critical administration threshold and identifies rapid bleeding better than the retrospective definition of at least 10 units of red cells in 24 hours [5]…

…Measure the plasma glucose immediately. 5. Perform the NIHSS and document which symptoms are disabling. 6. Measure the blood pressure, initially in both arms if…

…surface of cardiac cells. Through the guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins Gi and Go, adenosine activates potassium channels (IK.Ach, K.Ado) in a manner analogous…

…early on does not exclude major bleeding. In acute blood loss, plasma and red cells are lost simultaneously, which means the haemoglobin can be normal…

…target of rapamycin complex 1 signalling, thereby reducing inflammatory mediator expression and glycolytic activity in relevant renal and cardiovascular cells. These cellular mechanisms remain proposed…

…may occur in the absence of ECG changes and vice versa (i.e. ECG changes may be pronounced without any arrhythmias occurring). Plasma levels 2…

…or unexpected values should be confirmed with a laboratory analysed plasma glucose when the situation allows. Glucose meters are less reliable in the hypoglycaemic range…

…be saved early for later targeted analysis. Initial monitoring and investigations Investigation Comment : : Plasma glucose Taken immediately and repeated in impaired consciousness, or with insulin…

…pathophysiology Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an inherited disorder characterized by persistently elevated plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL C) from early life and a consequent…

…the cerebral oedema quickly, not to normalise the plasma sodium. Chronic or minimally symptomatic hyponatraemia must be corrected in a controlled fashion, since too rapid…

…on the drug chart. Glucose targets on the ward Situation Target plasma glucose : : Most inpatients 6–10 mmol/L Frail older people, a short expected…

…The elimination half life is multiphasic. An initial 50% reduction in plasma concentration occurs 3 to 10 days after discontinuation, representing elimination from well perfused…

…150) An acute phase protein — a normal ferritin does not exclude iron deficiency in the presence of inflammation Transferrin saturation 15–50 % < 15 % indicates…

Enalaprilat Enalaprilat is rarely used in hypertensive crisis due to its slow onset, prolonged duration of effect, and significant individual variations in its effect. Drug…

…Their clinical importance arises from the causal role of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL C) and other apoB containing lipoproteins in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)…

…decrease serum norepinephrine levels, plasma renin levels, and potentially aldosterone levels. Clinical Presentation and Symptoms In the management of heart failure, digoxin improves hemodynamics without…

…markers of myocardial wall stress. They are released principally by ventricular cardiomyocytes in response to increased transmural stress and ventricular stretch. Atrial natriuretic peptide is…

…receptor expression, accelerating clearance of circulating LDL particles and lowering plasma LDL C. Statin therapy also produces a modest, dose dependent reduction in triglycerides. The…

…from cardiovascular disease. Pharmacological PCSK9 inhibition increases the effective availability of hepatic LDL receptors and thereby enhances LDL C removal from plasma. Two principal therapeutic…

…halve before the creatinine leaves the reference range, because the relationship is hyperbolic. In people with a low muscle mass — the elderly, the undernourished, amputees…

…cannula. Wait a few minutes — the venepuncture itself can cause a stress related rise in cortisol. 3. Take the baseline sample : cortisol and plasma ACTH…

…In prolonged status the initial sympathetic response can give way to hypotension, hypoxia, hypoglycaemia and circulatory failure [5]. Plasma glucose immediately Check the capillary or…

…Use with caution in patients on low dose acetylsalicylic acid for cardioprotection. Pharmacokinetic interactions Methotrexate: NSAIDs inhibit tubular secretion of methotrexate, increasing plasma levels and…

…and proteinuria Neurohormonal activation Plasma volume expansion Myocardial remodelling and fibrosis These processes form part of the broader cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome, in which adiposity…

…Fresh frozen plasma Prothrombin complex concentrate Actions in suspected poisoning and cardiac arrest Promptly contact the closest intensive care unit (ICU) possessing expertise in toxicological…

…cardiac action potential may be altered by electrolyte imbalance, owing to changes in intra and extracellular electrolyte concentrations. Some electrolyte imbalances are clinically negligible (from…

…infusion. This delayed onset is attributable to its active metabolite, which reaches maximum plasma concentration approximately 48 hours after the infusion has been completed. Furthermore…

…result in an overestimation of the QT interval. If the patient uses QT prolonging drugs, the QT interval should be measured during peak plasma concentrations…

…Figure 1. Echocardiogram showing takotsubo cardiomyopathy in acute phase (A) and resolution phase (B). Note the apical ballooning of the apical portion fo the left…