Skip to main content
Log in

Serum and erythrocyte magnesium in critically ill patients

  • Original
  • Published:
Intensive Care Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the prevalence of serum and erythrocyte magnesium (Mg) abnormalities in patients on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to test the hypothesis that low levels of Mg are associated with a higher mortality.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

14-bed ICU in a 1000-bed teaching hospital.

Patients

179 consecutive patients admitted over a 4-month period.

Measurements

Total serum Mg (Mgs) and erythrocyte Mg (Mge) were determined on admission by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Severity of illness was assessed by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and the number of organ system failures (OSF) during the first 24 h. The patients were followed up until discharge from hospital.

Main results

On admission, 79 patients (44%) were hypomagnesemic and 10 (6%) were hypermagnesemic. A low level of Mge was observed in 119 patients (66%). In patients with similar APACHE II scores and OSF numbers, more of those with hyperMgs died during their ICU stay. However, the Mge value on admission did not correlate with patient outcome.

Conclusions

We confirm the high prevalence of Mgs abnormalities as well as Mg deficiency on admission to a medical ICU. Low levels of Mgs and Mge are not associated with higher fatality. HyperMgs was associated with patient death.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reinhart RA, Desbiens NA (1985) Hypomagnesemia in patients entering the ICU. Crit Care Med 13:506–507

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ryzen E, Wagers PW, Singer FR, Rude RK (1985) Magnesium deficiency in a medical ICU population. Crit Care Med 13:19–21

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chernow B, Bamberger S, Stoiko M, Vadnais M, Mills S, Hoellrich V, Warshaw AL (1989) Hypomagnesemia in patients in postoperative intensive care. Chest 95:391–397

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rubeiz GJ, Thill-Baharozian M, Hardie D, Carlson RW (1993) Association of hypomagnesemia and mortality in acutely ill medical patients. Crit Care Med 21:203–209

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kingston ME, Al-Siba'l MB, Skooge WC (1986) Clinical manifestations of hypomagnesemia. Crit Care Med 14:950–954

    Google Scholar 

  6. Toitou Y, Godard JP, Ferment O, Chastang C, Proust J, Bogdan A, Auzéby A, Toitou C (1987) Prevalence of magnesium and potassium deficiencies in the elderly. Clin Chem 33:518–523

    Google Scholar 

  7. Knaus WA, Draper EA, Wagner DP, Zimmermann JE (1985) APACHE II: a severity of disease classification system. Crit Care Med 13:818–829

    Google Scholar 

  8. Knaus WA, Draper EA, Wagner DP, Zimmerman JE (1985) Prognosis in acute organ system failure. Ann Surg 202:685–692

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mathieu D (1990) In: Legall JR, Loirat P (eds) Evaluation en réanimation. Masson, Paris, pp 73–92

    Google Scholar 

  10. Broner CW, Stidham GL, Westenkirchner DF, Tolley EA (1990) Hypermagnesemia and hypocalcemia as predictors of high mortality in critically ill pediatrics patients. Crit Care Med 18:921–928

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mordes JP, Swartz R, Arky RA (1975) Extreme hypermagnesemia as a cause of refractory hypotension. Ann Intern Med 83:657–658

    Google Scholar 

  12. Berns SA, Kollmeyer KR (1976) Magnesium-induced bradycardia. Ann Intern Med 85:760–761

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ferdinandus J, Pederson JA, Whang R (1981) Hypermagnesemia as a cause of refractory hypotension, respiratory depression, and coma. Arch Intern Med 141:669–670

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fassler CA, Rodriguez RM, Badesch DB, Stone WJ, Marinii JJ (1985) Magnesium toxicity as a cause of hypotension and hypoventilation. Arch Intern Med 145:1604–1606

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ryzen E, Elkayam U, Rude RK (1986) Low blood mononuclear cell magnesium in intensive cardiac care unit patients. Am Heart J 111:475–480

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guérin, C., Cousin, C., Mignot, F. et al. Serum and erythrocyte magnesium in critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med 22, 724–727 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709512

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709512

Key words

Navigation