title: Magnesium: An Overlooked Electrolyte.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypermagnesemia is rare and usually iatrogenic. Due to decreased renal function, older patients are generally more susceptible to hypermagnesemia than are younger patients. Because it is not one of the commonly assessed electrolytes in the blood work panel of patients, high levels are usually missed.
  
  
  METHODS
  An elderly gentleman with history of leukemia presented with complaints of shortness of breath and extreme weakness while walking. He was diagnosed with severe hypermagnesemia, but unfortunately succumbed to cardiorespiratory arrest. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Thorough history taking is crucial in evaluating weakness in elderly patients because the differential diagnosis is vast. Prompt consultation for emergent dialysis is critical to avoiding unfavorable outcomes due to electrolyte abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: UT Health Science Center at Houston-McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kala
authors.affiliation: UT Health Science Center at Houston-McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Ala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abudayyeh
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium
keywords: dialysis; hypermagnesemia; hypoxia; muscle weakness