In a patient receiving calcium citrate for hypocalcemia, which finding demonstrates a therapeutic response?

The observation of decreased paresthesia is the most indicative of a therapeutic response in a patient receiving calcium citrate for hypocalcemia. Paresthesia, which often manifests as tingling or numbness in the extremities, is a common symptom associated with low calcium levels in the body. When calcium supplementation effectively raises the serum calcium level, it can alleviate these symptoms, indicating that the treatment is working.

A positive Chvostek's sign, which reflects hyperexcitable nerve and muscle tissue due to low calcium, would suggest continued hypocalcemia despite treatment. Increased thirst is not directly related to the correction of calcium levels and may arise from various causes not specifically connected to calcium supplementation. A calcium level of 8.8 mg/dL, while within a broader normal range, may not specifically demonstrate an improvement from hypocalcemia, depending on the individual patient’s baseline levels or what is considered normal for them. Therefore, the most accurate marker of a therapeutic response in this context is the alleviation of paresthesia.