György's serum electrolyte formula

The serum electrolyte formula according to Albert von Szent-Györgyi Nagyrápolt (1893–1986) describes how neuromuscular excitability changes with the increase or decrease in electrolytes (dissolved ions such as calcium etc.) in the blood. It is used to make it easier to remember the symptoms that a disturbance in the body's electrolyte balance can trigger.

Symptoms

An increase in neuromuscular excitability can have the following effects on the body:

• Fasciculations (muscle twitching)
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Vomiting , diarrhea
• Paresthesia (abnormal sensations such as pins and needles or 'falling asleep')
• increased irritability, possibly also depression

A decrease in neuromuscular excitability can have the following effects on the body:

• Adynamia (muscle weakness) up to pseudoparalysis (pseudo paralysis)
• Hypoventilation (decreased respiratory drive )
• also cardiac arrhythmias , vomiting , diarrhea

formula

${\displaystyle K={\frac {\lbrack K^{+}\rbrack \cdot \lbrack HCO_{3}^{-}\rbrack \cdot \lbrack HPO_{4}^{2-}\rbrack }{\lbrack Ca^{2+}\rbrack \cdot \lbrack Mg^{2+}\rbrack \cdot \lbrack H^{+}\rbrack }}}$

Every increase in K leads to an increase in neuromuscular excitability; every decrease in K leads to a decrease in the same.