Clinical chemistry

Abstract This chapter explores clinical chemistry, including the normal range, laboratory medicine, major disease patterns in biochemistry, lab results indicating emergencies, fluid balance, IV fluid therapy, electrolyte physiology and the kidney, acid–base balance, hypernatraemia, hyponatraemia, syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH), hyperkalaemia, hypokalaemia, calcium and phosphate physiology, hypercalcaemia, hypocalcaemia, phosphate, magnesium, zinc, selenium, urate and the kidney, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, Paget’s disease of bone, plasma proteins, urinary proteins, plasma enzymes, hyperlipidaemia, and the porphyrias.