UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: calcium disorders and ECGs

Keywords: hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, electrocardiography (PubMed Search)

Posted: 8/22/2010 by Amal Mattu, MD
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typical ECG findings associated with hypercalcemia: short QT (e.g. QTc < 400 msec), ST-segment depression

typical ECG findings associated with hypocalcemia: prolonged QT

note that hyperkalemia is often associated with hypocalcemia, and as a result hyperkalemic patients often have a prolonged QT, but it's not the hyperkalemia that prolongs the QT, it's the hypocalcemia

References