Thursday, April 24, 2008

Foscarnet & Hypocalcemia

A quick fact about foscarnet, one of the many drugs which can cause drug-induced hypocalcemia.

Foscarnet is an antiviral medication, commonly used in the treatment of herpesviruses and CMV infections (e.g., CMV retinitis).

The mechanism of its hypocalcemic action is somewhat unique in that the molecule binds to ionized Ca itself, there by resulting in rapid depletion of calcium levels. For this reason, Ca levels should be checked following foscarnet infusion.

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