title: Fractional excretion of magnesium of chronic renal failure patients in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the usefulness of the fractional excretion of magnesium (FEMg2+) in Nigerian chronic renal failure patients (mild to moderate) in determining the severity of renal insufficiency. Plasma and twenty-four hour urine samples were analysed for magnesium and creatinine in thirty-five chronic renal failure patients and twenty-five healthy controls. The mean fractional excretion of magnesium (FEMg2+) was 15.3%(13.6) in the patients and 6.1%(2.3) in the controls and this correlated negatively with the creatinine clearance in both groups (r = -0.343, p < 0.05) in patients and (r = -0.665, p < 0.001) in controls. There was a positive correlation between plasma creatinine and fractional excretion of magnesium in the patients (r = 0.463, p < 0.05) and controls (0.455, p < 0.05). FEMg2+ may therefore be a more sensitive indicator of renal insufficiency and may also be a better indicator of the progression of renal failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oladipo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Onubi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Awobusuyi
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Afonja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine; D008274:Magnesium