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Magnesium homeostasis in critically ill patients
1University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Magnesium
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Magnesium deficiency is common in critically ill patients, often missed. This condition can lead to serious health issues like low calcium and heart rhythm problems, even with normal kidney function.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is frequently observed in critically ill individuals.
- Causes include gastrointestinal/urinary losses, malnutrition, and reduced dietary intake.
- Hypomagnesemia is prevalent, even in patients with normal serum creatinine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the high prevalence of magnesium deficiency in critically ill patients.
- To discuss the potential underdiagnosis of normomagnesemic magnesium deficiency.
- To explore the contribution of magnesium deficiency to clinical complications.
Main Methods:
- Observational study in a medical intensive-care unit.
- Analysis of serum magnesium levels in critically ill patients.
- Correlation with serum creatinine concentrations.
Main Results:
- 65% of patients with normal serum creatinine exhibited hypomagnesemia.
- Suggests a higher prevalence of magnesium deficiency than typically recognized.
- Normomagnesemic magnesium deficiency may also be common.
Conclusions:
- Magnesium deficiency is a significant and often overlooked issue in critical care.
- Undiagnosed magnesium deficiency can contribute to hypocalcemia and cardiac arrhythmias.
- Further investigation into normomagnesemic magnesium deficiency is warranted.