Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Feb 2024
[Arthralgia in psoriasis vulgaris - sometimes it's worth taking a second look].
The 71-year-old patient reported long-standing inflammatory arthralgia due to psoriasis vulgaris. Therapy with methotrexate led to elevated liver values; the symptoms persisted under treatment with the TNFα inhibitor adalimumab. ⋯ Hepatitis C can appear through extrahepatic manifestations in the form of periarticular inflammation. Suspicious inflammatory arthralgias in psoriasis vulgaris are not conterminous with the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and should be evaluated by a professional rheumatologist.
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Phosphate is essential for bone metabolism and for energy provision. Phosphate homeostasis is achieved by hormonal feedback mechanisms, predominantly parathyroid hormone, fibroblast growth factor 23 and calcitriol, with renal phosphate absorption taking on a special role. ⋯ Essentially, the clinically relevant disturbances in phosphate balance can be attributed to three mechanisms: 1. shifts of phosphate between the extracellular space and the cytosol; 2. inadequate phosphate reabsorption in the kidney; 3. decreased intestinal phosphate absorption. Knowledge of physiology enables diagnosis and therapy of phosphate disorders.
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Calcium is essential for numerous metabolic processes and is hormonally controlled. These hormonal mechanisms are surprisingly effective in regulating calcium levels very reliably within a narrow range - but deviations in serum calcium levels quite often cause clinical problems. Hypercalcemia predominantly occurs in primary hyperparathyroidism or is associated with tumors (especially osteolytic processes). ⋯ Symptomatic therapy depends on the severity of the electrolyte imbalance. Calcium is lowered in hypercalcemia via forced diuresis, the administration of calcitonin and bisphosphonates or denosumab, if necessary, via dialysis. Severe hypocalcemia is corrected acutely with parenteral calcium administration and any further treatment decisions and prognosis depend on the underlying disease.
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Osmotic gradients over cell membranes lead to water movement into or out of cells. An intact osmoregulation prevents osmotic gradients, thereby protecting cells from swelling or shrinking. Na+ is the major cation in the extracellular fluid (ECF) and the major determinant of the osmolarity in the ECF, including plasma. ⋯ The therapeutic armamentarium for hyponatremia consists of water restriction, hypertonic infusions, urea, V2 receptor-blockers, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Patients with hypernatremia are treated with electrolyte-free water or hypotonic sodium-containing solutions depending on their volume status. Basic concepts in the management of dysnatremic patients are discussed.