DISEASE OF THE MONTH Hypomagnesemia

Signs and Symptoms of Magnesium Depletion Symptomatic magnesium depletion is often associated with multiple biochemical abnormalities such as hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and metabolic alkalosis. As a result, it is often difficult to ascribe specific clinical manifestations solely to hypomagnesemia. In 1960, five patients were reported with symptoms considered to be typical of magnesium depletion, including tetany, positive Chvostek and Trousseau signs, and generalized convulsions (5). Somewhat similar findings—generalized weakness, anorexia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and positive Trousseau and Chvostek signs—were noted when magnesium depletion was induced in volunteers (6). Tetany can occur in the absence of hypocalcemia and alkalosis and is presumably due to lowering of the threshold for nerve stimulation (7).