The Chvostek sign (/ˈkvɒstɪk/) is a clinical sign that someone may have a low blood calcium level (a decreased serum calcium, called hypocalcemia). The Chvostek sign is the abnormal twitching of muscles that are activated (innervated) by the facial nerve (also known as Cranial Nerve Seven, or CNVII).[1] When the facial nerve is tapped in front of the ear, the facial muscles on the same side of the face will contract sporadically (called ipsilateral facial spasm). The muscles that control the nose, lips and eyebrows are often the ones that will spasm.
These facial spasms are caused by the nerves that control the muscle being easily excited (called hyperexcitability) due to hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia can be caused by many things, including parathyroid conditions (such as when the parathyroid gland does not function well, called hypoparathyroidism) and vitamin diseases (such as a vitamin D deficiency). Sometimes, the Chvostek sign can be caused by other conditions which interfere with the balance of calcium, such as imbalanced acid and alkaline in blood causing respiratory alkalosis (an alkaline blood pH).
The Trousseau sign of latent tetany is another sign of decreased calcium in blood where muscles in the hand contract when the brachial artery supplying the area is occluded. The Trousseau sign of latent tetany also generally occurs earlier than the Chvostek sign and is a more accurate predictor of hypocalcemia, allowing clinicians to recognise the condition earlier.
^Jesus, JE; Landry, A (Sep 13, 2012). "Images in clinical medicine. Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs". The New England Journal of Medicine. 367 (11): e15. doi:10.1056/NEJMicm1110569. PMID 22970971.
The Chvosteksign (/ˈkvɒstɪk/) is a clinical sign that someone may have a low blood calcium level (a decreased serum calcium, called hypocalcemia). The...
Chvostek may refer to: Chvosteksign, a clinical sign of existing nerve hyperexcitability Annabelle Chvostek (born 1973), Canadian singer-songwriter based...
nose or lips suggests low calcium levels. This is now known as the Chvosteksign.[citation needed] EMG studies reveal single or often grouped motor unit...
generally believed to be more sensitive (94%) than the Chvosteksign (29%) for hypocalcemia. This sign may also be observed as a symptom of hyperventilation...
Difficulty walking, often with a waddling gait Hypocalcemia (positive Chvosteksign) Compressed vertebrae and diminished stature Pelvic flattening Weak...
A pathognomonic sign is a particular sign whose presence means that a particular disease is present beyond any doubt. Labelling a sign or symptom "pathognomonic"...
also called Gowers' manoeuvre also called Hutchinson's incisors or Kussmaul respiration also called the double wall sign also Sister Mary Joseph sign...
Chvostek'ssign) or by using the cuff of a sphygmomanometer to temporarily obstruct the blood flow to the arm (a phenomenon known as Trousseau's sign...
sign of latent tetany (eliciting carpal spasm by inflating the blood pressure cuff and maintaining the cuff pressure above systolic) Chvostek'ssign (tapping...
life-threateningly low calcium levels. This can be detected using the Chvostek'ssign or Trousseau's sign. To prevent this complication, calcium is infused intravenously...
Schultze include: Schultze-Chvosteksign: A sign of tetany seen in hypocalcemia, commonly referred to as Chvostek'ssign. Schultze's fold: A crescent-shaped...
basal ganglia. The eponymous "Weiss's sign" is named after him, which today is usually referred to as "Chvostek'ssign". In 1881 he showed a causal relationship...
1899) 1828 – Rudolf Koller, Swiss painter (d. 1905) 1835 – František Chvostek, Czech-Austrian physician and academic (d. 1884) 1837 – Itagaki Taisuke...
Phoenix - April 23 Casper Skulls, Knows No Kindness - November 12 Annabelle Chvostek, String of Pearls Cœur de pirate, Perséides (April 30); Impossible à aimer...
third chancellor of Syracuse University (d. 1908) May 21 – František Chvostek, Moravian physician (d. 1884) June 2 – Pope Pius X (d. 1914) June 6 – Ștefan...
Asperger, were rejected in 1945 as Nazis." Under the influence of Franz Chvostek junior, the Vienna clinic became a "hotbed of pan-Germanist and Nazi agitation...
1878 – Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine (b. 1874) 1884 – František Chvostek, Czech-Austrian soldier and physician (b. 1835) 1885 – Louis Riel, Canadian...
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