Renal magnesium wasting associated with therapeutic agents

Renal magnesium wasting is an important cause of hypomagnesemia observed in hospitalized patients. The purpose of this review is to present an index case of symptomatic hypomagnesemia associated with renal magnesium wasting during capreomycin therapy, and to survey the available literature regarding the various therapeutic agents associated with the causation of this syndrome. Finally, we have considered the pathophysiologic mechanisms that may contribute to the development of the multiple electrolyte abnormalities observed in these patients, and have outlined the current strategies to treat this syndrome.