[Hypomagnesemic coma during therapy of septicaemia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. (author's transl)]

During induction therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia a 10 year old boy developed a hyperuremic nephropathy and subsequently a staphylococcal septicemia at the beginning of the 3. week. Specific treatment was started leading to severe hypomagnesemia and generalized seizures with coma for 30 hours, which finally responded to magnesium replacement. The possible additive effect of nephropathy, gentamicin, and furosemide due to urinary loss of magnesium is discussed and should encourage further observations.