Magnesium Sulfate: Another Cause of a Solute Diuresis

In pregnant women, magnesium sulfate infusions are a treatment commonly used for preeclampsia and as a tocolytic agent. In this case report, a 33-year-old woman at 26 weeks of gestation received intravenous magnesium sulfate in Ringer's lactate solution and corticosteroids for preterm uterine contractions without preeclampsia. She developed polyuria of more than 18L in 48 hours, with urine chemistries documenting that magnesium sulfate contributed 30% of the solute in this massive isosthenuric diuresis. Therefore, magnesium sulfate should be added to the common solutes, glucose, sodium chloride, urea, and mannitol, as a cause of solute diureses.