title: Marked hypocalcemia after tocolytic magnesium sulphate therapy.
abstract: Symptomatic hypocalcemia has been reported infrequently in association with magnesium sulfate (MgSO (4)) tocolytic therapy. We report a 38-year-old woman who presented in preterm labor at 24 3/7 weeks. Twenty hours after starting MgSO (4), she developed chest pain. Studies revealed therapeutic serum Mg level, total serum calcium (Ca) = 5.5 mg/dL, 24-hour urine Ca = 763.9 mg, and low serum uric acid and phosphate levels. All studies corrected day 1 postpartum; urine Ca level corrected on day 2. Even short courses of MgSO (4) can result in severe hypocalcemia, raising the question of whether Ca levels should be routinely monitored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Anwar H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salti
authors.forename: Nisrine N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Makarem
authors.forename: Ihab M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Usta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate