Trousseau sign is a clinical indicator of which electrolyte disturbance?

Trousseau sign is a clinical indicator of which electrolyte disturbance?

• A. Hyperkalemia
• B. Hyponatremia
• C. Hypocalcemia
• D. Hypercalcemia

Answer: (C)

Trousseau sign reflects increased neuromuscular excitability from low calcium, revealed when a blood pressure cuff is left inflated on the arm to cut off circulation. Low calcium lowers the threshold for depolarization in nerves and muscles, so ischemia of the forearm triggers a painful, involuntary contraction of the hand—carpopedal spasm, producing a claw-like posture. This classic response points to hypocalcemia, which can occur with hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, chronic kidney disease, or acute illness. In contrast, high calcium tends to dampen excitability and cause weakness, not spasms, and other electrolyte derangements like hyperkalemia or hyponatremia don’t reliably produce this specific sign.

Trousseau sign reflects increased neuromuscular excitability from low calcium, revealed when a blood pressure cuff is left inflated on the arm to cut off circulation. Low calcium lowers the threshold for depolarization in nerves and muscles, so ischemia of the forearm triggers a painful, involuntary contraction of the hand—carpopedal spasm, producing a claw-like posture. This classic response points to hypocalcemia, which can occur with hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, chronic kidney disease, or acute illness. In contrast, high calcium tends to dampen excitability and cause weakness, not spasms, and other electrolyte derangements like hyperkalemia or hyponatremia don’t reliably produce this specific sign.