[Plasma Mg-levels during treatment of hypopotassaemia with Potassium-magnesium aspartate (author's transl)]

The importance of magnesium in the human organism is firmly established. About 250 Mg-dependent enzymes are so far known (2). Under intensive care conditions hypomagnesaemia is a fairly frequent occurrence, but is liable, as experience has shown, to be over-corrected. Serum Mg-levels in excess of 4.0 mg/percent already affect nerve conduction and induce bradycardia (4, 6, 7,). The inhibited liberation of acetylcholine (3) induces vasodilatation with hypotension, ileus and adynamia (3, 6, 7). Magnesium-containing solutions are, therefore, also contra-indicated in myasthenia gravis. Magnesium levels of 6--12 mg/percent are liable to lead to somnolence and even comma (4, 6). Platelet function and, consequently blood coagulation, are also affected by the Mg-levels in the blood (5, 8, 9). Should potassium substitution of more than 100 mEq/litre become necessary it must be borne in mind that administration of potassium-magnesium aspartate may raise the Mg concentrations to undesirable levels, espeically if renal function is impaired.