A 44-year-old black male is brought to the emergency department with 6 h of worsening lethargy and confusion. Past medical history is significant for easy bruising, 3 months of bone pain, and frequent pneumococcal infections. Labs were ordered, revealing serum calcium of 17 mg/dL (normal: 9.0 to 10.5 mg/dL). To rapidly lower his serum calcium, you administer calcitonin. However, calcitonin alone is insufficient because it is known to rapidly and suddenly lose its effectiveness within 2 to 3 days of repeated dosing. For this reason, a bisphosphonate, which take 2 to 3 days to become effective, is added simultaneously. What is the term for the rapid decrease in response to calcitonin?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of A 44-year-old black male is brought to the emergency department with 6 h of worsening lethargy and confusion. Past medical history is significant for easy bruising, 3 months of bone pain, and frequent pneumococcal infections. Labs were ordered, revealing serum calcium of 17 mg/dL (normal: 9.0 to 10.5 mg/dL). To rapidly lower his serum calcium, you administer calcitonin. However, calcitonin alone is insufficient because it is known to rapidly and suddenly lose its effectiveness within 2 to 3 days of repeated dosing. For this reason, a bisphosphonate, which take 2 to 3 days to become effective, is added simultaneously. What is the term for the rapid decrease in response to calcitonin?

A 44-Year-Old Black Male Is Brought to the Emergency Department