American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the American Board of Internal Medicine Exam with our multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your medical knowledge and skills to excel in your certification exam with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What occurs to calcium levels in Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)?

Increased levels
Decreased levels
Levels remain the same
No specific change noted

The correct answer is: Decreased levels

In Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS), the disruption of cellular integrity due to the rapid breakdown of malignant cells results in the release of intracellular contents into the bloodstream. This includes significant amounts of potassium, phosphate, and uric acid. When large numbers of tumor cells are lysed, the release of phosphate can lead to hyperphosphatemia, which is closely associated with the development of hypocalcemia. This occurs because elevated phosphate levels can bind with calcium, forming calcium phosphate, which reduces serum calcium levels. As a result, the calcium levels typically decrease in TLS, making hypocalcemia a common laboratory finding in this condition. The physiological relationship between calcium and phosphate levels is crucial in understanding this process. The kidneys also struggle to excrete the high levels of phosphate, further contributing to the fall in calcium. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the decrease in calcium levels resulting from the metabolic disturbances associated with Tumor Lysis Syndrome.