Introduction
Since the introduction of omeprazole in 1989, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have become one of the most commonly prescribed classes of medications in the world. In 2007, PPI sales in the United States were in excess of $11 billion.¹ Esomeprazole and lansoprazole both ranked among the top five drugs sold in the United States in 2007.¹

Introduction

From The American Urological Association Foundation. Please click here for pdf.

This past week, I have had several patients with abnormal serum calcium levels, both high and low, and thought it would be a good idea to remind others about the problem of hypocalcemia. While hypercalcemia is not an infrequent finding in the older person, few physicians expect to see low calcium values. If they are noted on the laboratory results, they usually assume that they are due to low protein binding; total calcium levels are usually what have been measured. Patients with true hypocalcemia are not uncommon if one looks hard enough or sees patients in the setting of acute illness. In fact, one study reported that 70% of patients in a medical Intensive Care Unit had a low serum calcium level at some time during their admission.¹ Of note, the exact cause of the hypocalcemia could be identified in only 45% of these cases.

The 2010 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was held in New Orleans, LA, May 14-19, with an international attendance of over 15,000 persons. This annual meeting of respiratory health researchers and clinicians took on additional significance since 2010 has been designated the “Year of the Lung” by hundreds of international organizations focusing on the importance of lung health and lung disease. The campaign is aimed at educating the public, elected officials, and the media about the global importance of respiratory health and the quality of the air that we breathe.