title: Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte.
abstract: Magnesium (Mg++), Potassium (K+) and Calcium (CA++) are important electrolytes in keeping a stable electrical status. The purpose of this study was to measure them in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the electrolytes in 28 consecutive patients. Eighteen were females and 10 males with mean age of 62 +/- 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The admission diagnosis in 95% of the cases was congestive heart failure. Sixty-four percent of the patients had subnormal values of Mg++, 53% subnormal values of K+, and 28% subnormal values of CA++. Fourteen percent showed lower values of the three electrolytes and 35% only of Mg++ and K+ concomitantly. Twenty-eight percent showed prolonged QTC interval. All patients with prolonged QTC interval had low Mg++ and K+ levels. Twenty five percent of the patients showed atrial fibrillation, 25% ventricular tachycardia, and 3% junctional tachycardia. The ventricular tachycardia group had more electrolyte abnormalities than those with atrial fibrillation. None of the patients received Mg++ replacement during critical management while 50% received K+ replacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This data shows physician overlook the Importance of Mg++ and K+ deficiency in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Physiology, UPR School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Pablo I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.forename: Silo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: Héctor L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Banchs
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Escobales
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D016638:Critical Illness; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium