-
Potassium (K+)
Normal range: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L or 3.5-5.0 mmol/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Dehydration
- •Renal failure
- •Acidosis
- •Cellular/tissue damage
- •Hemolysis of the specimen
- DECREASED IN:
- •NPO status when potassium replacement is
- inadequate
- •Excessive use of none-potassium-sparing
- diuretics
- •Vomiting
- •Malnutrition
- •Diarrhea
- •Alkalosis
-
Sodium (Na+)
Normal range: 90 yr or younger: 136-145 mEq/L or 136-145 mmol/L; older than 90: 132-146 mEq/L or132-146 mmol/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Cardiac or renal failure
- •Hypertension
- •Excessive amounts of IV fluids containing
- normal saline
- •Edema
- •Dehydration (hemoconcentration)
- DECREASED IN:
- •Nasogastric drainage
- •Vomiting or diarrhea
- •Excessive use of laxatives or diuretics
- •Excessive amounts of IV fluids containing
- water
- •Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic
- hormone (SIADH)
-
Chloride (Cl-)
Normal range: 90 yr or younger: 98-106 mEq/L or 98-106 mmol/L; older than 90: 98-111 mEq/L or 98-111 mmol/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Respiratory alkalosis
- •Dehydration
- •Renal failure
- •Excessive amounts of IV fluids containing
- sodium chloride (NaCl)
- DECREASED IN:
- •Excessive nasogastric drainage
- •Vomiting
- •Excessive use of diuretics
- •diarrhea
-
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Normal range: 60 yr or younger: 23-30 mEq/L or 23-30 mmol/L; 60-90 yr: 23-31 mEq/L or 23-31 mmol/L; older than 90: 20-29 mEq/L or 20-29 mmol/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Chronic pulmonary disease
- •Intestinal obstruction
- •Vomiting or nasogastric suctioning
- •Metabolic alkalosis
- DECREASED IN:
- •Hyperventilation
- •Diabetic ketoacidosis
- •Diarrhea
- •Lactic acidosis
- •Renal failure
- •Salicylate toxicity
-
Glucose (fasting)
Normal range: 60 yr or younger: 70-110 mg/dL or 4.1-5.9 mmol/L; 60-90 yr: 82-115 mg/dL or 4.6-6.4 mmol/L; older than 90: 75-121 mg/dL or 4.2-6.7 mmol/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Hyperglycemia
- •Excessive amounts of IV fluids containing
- glucose
- •Stress
- •Steroid use
- •Pancreatic or hepatic disease
- DECREASED IN:
- •Hypoglycemia
- •Excess insulin
-
Creatinine
Normal range: Females: 60 yr
or younger: 0.5-1.1 mg/dL or
44-97 μmol/L;
60-90 yr:
0.6-1.2 mg/dL
or 53-115 μmol/L;
older than 90: 0.6-1.3 mg/dL
or 53-115 μmol/L
Males: 60 yr
or younger: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
or 53-106 μmol/L;
60-90 yr:
0.8-1.3 mg/dL
or 71-115 μmol/L;
older than 90 yr:
1.0-1.7 mg/dL
or 88-150 μmol/L
- Normal range:
- Females: 60 yr or younger: 0.5-1.1 mg/dL or 44-97 μmol/L; 60-90 yr: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL or 53-115 μmol/L; older than 90: 0.6-1.3 mg/dL or 53-115 μmol/L
- Males: 60 yr or younger: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL or 53-106 μmol/L; 60-90 yr: 0.8-1.3 mg/dL or 71-115 μmol/L; older than 90 yr:1.0-1.7 mg/dL or 88-150 μmol/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Renal damage with destruction of large
- number of nephrons
- •Renal insufficiency
- •Acute renal failure
- •Chronic kidney disease
- •End-stage kidney disease (ESKD)
- DECREASED IN:
- Atrophy of muscle tissue
-
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Normal range: 60 yr or younger: 10-20 mg/dL or 2.1-7.1 mmol/L; 60-90 yr: 8-23 mg/dL or 2.9-8.2 mmol/L; older than 90: 10-31 mg/dL or 3.6-11.1 mol/
- INCREASED IN:
- •Dehydration
- •Renal failure
- •Excessive protein in diet
- •Liver failure
- DECREASED IN:
- •Overhydration
- •Malnutrition
-
Prothrombin time (pro time, PT)
Normal range: 11-12.5 sec, 85%-100% or 1: 1.1 patient-control
- INCREASED IN:
- •Coagulation defect (bleeding disorder)
- •Vitamin K deficiency
- DECREASED IN:
- •Coagulation (clotting) disorder, such as
- thrombophlebitis or pulmonary embolus
-
International normalized ratio (INR)
Normal range: 0.7-1.8
- INCREASED IN:
- •Antiocoagulant therapy (aspirin, warfarin)
- DECREASED IN:
- •Extensive cancer
-
Partial thromboplastin time, activated (aPTT)
Normal range: 30-40
- INCREASED IN:
- •Coagulation defect (bleeding disorder)
- •Anticoagulant therapy (heparin)
- •Liver disease
- DECREASED IN:
- •Coagulation (clotting) disorder, such as
- thrombophlebitis or pulmonary embolus
- •Extensive cancer
-
White blood cell (WBC) count
(leukocyte count)
Normal range: total: 5,000-10,000/
- INCREASED IN:
- •Infection
- •Inflammation
- •Stress
- •Tissue necrosis
- DECREASED IN:
- •Immune disorder
- •Immunosuppressant therapy
-
Hemoglobin, total
- Normal range:
- Females: 18-44 yr: 12-16 g/dL or 117-155 g/L; 45-64 yr: 11.7-16.0 g/dL or 117-160 g/L; 65-74 yr: 11.7-16.1 g/dL or 117-161 g/L;
- Males: 18-44 yr: 14-18 g/dL or 132-173 g/L; 45-64 yr: 13.1-17.2 g/dL or 131-172 g/L; 65-74 yr: 12.6-17.4 g/dL or 126-174 g/L
- INCREASED IN:
- •Dehydration
- •Polycythemia
- •Chronic pulmonary disease
- •Congestive heart failure
- DECREASED IN:
- •Blood loss
- •Anemia
- •Renal failure
-
Hematocrit
- Normal range:
- Females: 18-44 yr: 35%-45%; 45-74 yr: 37-47%;
- Males: 18-44 yr: 42%-52%; 45-64 yr: 39%-50%; 65-74 yr: 37%-51%
- INCREASED IN:
- •Dehydration
- •Polycythemia
- •High altitude
- DECREASED IN:
- •Blood loss
- •Anemia
- •Kidney failure
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