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Medical Definition of Latent tetany
1. A rather vague disorder recognised more in Europe than in the U.S. Consisting of a number of non-specific complaints, including generalised weakness, hand and foot cramping, distal paresthesia, anxiety, and depression. Some think it is a "normocalcaemic tetany"; others consider it "chronic hyperventilation syndrome." Typically with certain provoking procedures (e.g., limb ischemia, hyperventilation) in which case, obvious tetany develops. See: Trousseau's sign, Chvostek's sign, Erb sign. Synonym: crytotetany, spasmophilia. (05 Mar 2000)