Hypermagnesemia represent an increase in total body magnesium and a serum magnesium concentration in excess of 2.6 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/ L). Because of the ability of the normal kidney to excrete magnesium, hypermagnesemia is rare.
Hypermagnesemia may result from a combination of excessive magnesium load and a relatively low capacity for renal excretion of magnesium.
Symptoms of hypermagnesemia usually correlate well with plasma magnesium concentration.
Signs and symptoms of hypermagnesemia reflect altered neuromuscular function (e.g. hyporeflexia, lethargy, respiratory depression) and cardiac function (e.g. flushing for vasodilation, bradycardia, hypotension, dysrhythmias).
Hypermagnesemia is one of the metabolic complications of tumor lysis syndrome, massive tissue damage from seizure and ischemia.
It also may due to abuse of antacid containing magnesium, redistribution in DKA or pheochromocytoma, and toxicity from lithium.
Some cases of hypermagnesemia associated with diabetic ketoacidosis have been discovered.
The elderly are particularly at risk because they have age-related reductions in kidney function and tend to consume more magnesium-containing medications, including antacids and laxatives.
Hypermagnesemia
