Metastatic calcification is a complication of which electrolyte abnormality?

• A. Hyperkalemia
• B. Hypokalemia
• C. Hyperphosphatemia
• D. Hypophosphatemia

Answer: (C)

Metastatic calcification happens when the calcium–phosphate product in the blood becomes high, causing calcium phosphate salts to precipitate in soft tissues that are otherwise normal. Elevated phosphate levels (hyperphosphatemia) are a classic trigger because they bind calcium, increasing the calcium-phosphate product and promoting deposition in tissues such as the lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. This is especially common in conditions like chronic kidney disease or during rapid cell turnover. Hyperkalemia or hypokalemia don’t directly drive calcium phosphate deposition, and lowering phosphate (as in hypophosphatemia) reduces the risk. So the electrolyte abnormality most associated with metastatic calcification is hyperphosphatemia.