Effect of albumin on neonatal serum ionized magnesium in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Human serum albumin (HAS) is used to treat hypoproteinaemia in neonates and as a volume expander. The aim of this study was to quantify the decrease in serum concentration of ionized magnesium ([Mg2+]) when human serum albumin is added to neonatal serum in vitro.


METHODS
Human serum albumin was added to 20 cord serum samples of term infants to reach incremental concentrations of 0 to 20.0 g/l and [Mg2+] were measured.


RESULTS
Serum [Mg2+] decreased significantly with the addition of serum albumin. At incremental serum albumin concentration of 10 to 20 g/l, which is within the range of the desired aim in the treatment of hypoalbuminaemia, the magnitude of the decrease in serum [Mg2+] was approximately 0.041 to 0.052 mmol/l (10 to 13 per cent) from the average baseline value.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of albumin causes a decrease in [Mg2+]. From this in vitro study we speculate that fast infusion of albumin in human neonates may potentially cause a clinically significant decrease in serum [Mg2+].
Dollberg
Shaul
S
The Department of Neonatology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. dollberg@tasmc.health.gov.il
Kupietz
Michal
M
Mimouni
Francis B
FB
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012709:Serum Albumin; D008274:Magnesium