title: Hypermagnesemia induced by massive cathartic ingestion in an elderly woman without pre-existing renal dysfunction.
abstract: A 76-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for unresponsiveness and hypotension. She had developed constipation that had led to ileus and had received 34 g of magnesium citrate (Magcolol P) orally the day before. She was lethargic, her blood pressure was less than 50 mmHg, and electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus arrest with junctional escape rhythm. Her serum concentration of magnesium (Mg) was markedly elevated (16.6 mg/dl =13.7 mEq/l). Emergency colonoscopy revealed ischemic colitis. As her condition ameliorated, her renal function returned to normal. Hence, the present case suggests that severe hypermagnesemia can occur in the absence of pre-existing renal dysfunction in elderly patients with gastrointestinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kanazawa Uinversity, Graduate School of Medical Science, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kontani
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006327:Heart Block / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045823:Ileus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D019343:Citric Acid; D008274:Magnesium; C110422:magnesium citrate