Dialysis Patients Have Low Calcium Levels In Blood

Many kidney dialysis patients complain bone pains, osteoporosis or even easy to get bone fracture. These bone problems are often caused by low calcium levels in the blood. This is not only due to aging, it is to a large degree due to renal failure and dialysis.

If patients are on regular maintenance dialysis, it means that the patient has entered end stage renal disease and more than 90% kidney functions are lost. End stage renal disease can cause a series of metabolic disorders and electrolyte imbalances. Metabolic disorders of calcium and phosphorus are very common among dialysis patients. Patients usually develop high blood phosphorus and low blood calcium.

Low levels of calcium in the blood can cause bone pains and a series of other bone problems. If left untreated, low blood calcium can cause other symptoms and illness conditions such as dry or itchy skin, muscle twitching, seizure or even coma or sudden stop of heart beat.

Severely impaired kidneys can not remove excessive phosphorus from the blood and cause high blood phosphorus. The calcium-phosphorus product will increase and cause the deposition of calcium phosphate and low blood calcium. Besides, dialysis often cause loss of proteins and other nutritions, therefore it can worsen low blood calcium and bone pains. Inadequate calcium intake due to restriction on the intake of proteins, dairy products, calcium loss due to digestive and gastrointestinal disorders are all possible causes.

If other causes of bones such as injuries can be ruled out and if patients have other accompanying symptoms such as bone fracture, skeleton deformity, fragile nails, it is very likely that the bone pain is caused by low blood calcium, therefore the focus of the treatment should aim at balancing calcium-phosphorus balances, lowering high phosphorus, increasing low blood calcium, repairing renal damages and improving renal functions.

Besides, dialysis patients should have more protein intake and have more calcium-rich foods or some calcium supplement. But the proper amount is very important. Over intake of calcium is also very harmful to the body, therefore it is necessary to consult a renal dietitian to make a healthy and safe diet plan according to your blood calcium levels and other illness conditions.