Presents the different aspects of clinical chemistry for the senior clinical medical student or junior doctor on the ward. This book explains the rationale underlying the common clinical chemistry tests to request and gives guidance as to what action is required on receipt of abnormal results.

This book presents the important aspects of clinical chemistry in the Made Easy format for the senior clinical medical student or junior doctor on the ward. The book explains the rationale underlying the most common clinical chemistry tests to request and gives guidance as to what action is required on receipt of abnormal results. The text includes brief background to the underlying physiological processes involved, important differential diagnoses and further steps required in the clinical setting. The ultimate aim is to make the reader think carefully as to what clinical chemistry tests are required in different contexts and to ensure that they are equipped to deal responsibly with the result. This results in improved clinical practice.

Sodium and water balance. Disorders of potassium balance. Assessment of renal function and urinary protein excretion. Metabolic acidbase disorders. Arterial blood gas analysis. Calcium, phosphate and magnesium metabolism. Liver function tests. Lipid disorders. Markers of cardiac and muscle injury and disease. Immunological investigations.