Intoxicatie met magnesium, een 'vergeten' elektrolyt

Translated title of the contribution: Intoxication with magnesium, a 'forgotten' electrolyte

I. van Dijk, J. Meulenbelt*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Magnesium salts are widely used and are usually regarded as rather harmless. Magnesium intoxication, however, can be lethal. Recently, severe magnesium intoxication was identified in 3 patients, one woman aged 68 and 2 men aged 19 and 26 years respectively, who required treatment in an Intensive Care setting. Initial symptoms of magnesium intoxication went unnoticed due to sedation or paraplegia. Only after developing severe neurological symptoms, respiratory or circulatory failure, magnesium intoxication was diagnosed. Plasma magnesium levels exceeded 6 mmol/l (reference value: 0.70-1.00). Therapy consisted of cessation of magnesium therapy, administration of calcium and enhanced elimination of magnesium by haemodialysis. All patients survived the intoxication. Magnesium intoxication may develop unnoticed when the initial signs and symptoms are masked by clinical conditions. Especially patients with renal failure, inflammatory bowel disease, sedation and paraplegia need careful monitoring when magnesium is administered.

    Translated title of the contributionIntoxication with magnesium, a 'forgotten' electrolyte
    Original languageDutch
    Pages (from-to)1401-1405
    Number of pages5
    JournalNederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde
    Volume152
    Issue number25
    Publication statusPublished - 21 Jun 2008

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