RESUMO
An introduction about the recently discovered importance of the calcium ion in regulating cellular and subcellular activities has been presented. The extreme rarity of published documents on the haemodynamic effects of acute calcium stress as well as its metabolic role is explored and stressed. The pharmacological relationship between calcium and the autonomic sympathetic nervous system activity is discussed. The study of the effects of hypercalcaemia as a result of rapid administration of 20 ml of a 10% solution of calcium gluconate [equivalent to 180 mg. of calcium] intravenously is evaluated as regards some of its haemodynamic and metabolic actions. The acute hypercalcaemic stress is investigated with regard to its effect in fasting human subjects on: [a] arterial blood pressure before, directly after and every 15 minutes subsequently for 90 minutes and [b] blood sugar level before and every 15 minutes for 90 minutes from the first estimation. The findings have been discussed evaluating the relation to each other in [a] normal subjects and, [b] diabetic, [c] hypertensive and [d] bilharzial hepatic fibrosis with and without ascites patients. The need for more studies to clarify the physiological activity of the calcium is forewarded