Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1065 page)

   Lytic tumors of bone

   Active Paget disease of bone; caused by increased uptake by bone

   Acute pancreatitis

   Transfusion of citrated blood

   Severe burns

   Sweating

   Sepsis

   Hypothermia

   Mg deficiency frequently coexists with other electrolyte abnormalities; it may cause apparently unexplained hypocalcemia and hypokalemia and should always be measured in such cases. About 40% of patients have coexisting hypokalemia.

   About 90% of patients with high or low serum Mg levels are not clinically recognized; therefore, routine inclusion of Mg with electrolyte measurements has been suggested.

   
Digitalis
sensitivity and toxicity frequently occur with hypomagnesemia.

   Ionized Mg is decreased in only approximately 70% of critically ill patients with decreased total Mg.

   Because deficiency can exist with normal or borderline serum Mg levels, a 24-hour urine test may be indicated by frequent concomitant disorders (coexist with other electrolyte abnormalities).