Treatment

Correction where acute plasma calcium is indicated:

• Promptly correct symptomatic or severe hypocalcaemia with cardiac arrhythmias or tetany with parenteral administration of calcium
• Start oral calcium and vitamin D treatment early
• Patients with cardiac arrhythmias or patients on digoxin therapy need continuous ECG monitoring during calcium replacement because calcium potentiates digitalis toxicity

Chronically, the treatment is aimed at the cause and may involve alpha hydroxylated D₃ administration.

Learning Bite: Tetany may be caused by hypocalcaemia, alkalosis, hyperventilation, excess vomiting and primary hyperaldosteronism i.e. hyperchloraemic alkalosis.