[Effects of hypomagnesemia].
BACKGROUND
The clinical consequences of plasmatic magnesium variations are underecognized in clinical practice. The dosage of plasmatic magnesium is underused and not reliable. Moreover, hypomagnesemia is often associated with other metabolic disorders (hypocalcemia, hypokaliemia), which are responsible for several symptoms.


METHODS
We report an 85-year-old man who presented with repeated bronchospasm, confusion, and abdominal and muscular pain, attributed to low magnesium serum level. We then review pathophysiology, various etiologies, clinical features, diagnostic challenge and treatment of low magnesium serum level.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypomagnesemia is poorly known and diagnosed. Therapeutic issues have not been clearly defined.
Forest
A
A
Service de gériatrie, hôpital de la Pitié-Salpétrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France. Anneforest1@hotmail.com
Lemaire
A
A
Boddaert
J
J
Verny
M
M
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000209:etiology*; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male
D008274:Magnesium