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Electrolytic Abnormalities Related to Magnesium in Critically Ill Cancer Patients

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Oncologic Critical Care

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Abstract

Magnesium is a cation found primarily in a bound state and serves as a critical cofactor for ATP-dependent reactions. It is important in physiological processes such as energy release, enzymatic activation, muscle contractility, and synaptic transmission. The homeostasis of magnesium depends on the balance of a variety of factors such as parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, insulin, glucose, ADH, glucagon, catecholamines, and other electrolytes (calcium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous). Magnesium metabolic disturbances are commonly present in critically ill patients admitted to ICU. Hypermagnesemia and hypomagnesemia may be associated with the development of life-threatening complications and organ dysfunction among ICU cancer patients. They lead to higher morbidity and mortality due to associated conditions as hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, cardiac arrhythmias, neurotoxicity, and psychiatric impairments. Because critically ill patients with cancer are predisposed to both symptomatic and asymptomatic hypermagnesemia and hypomagnesemia, ICU clinicians should avoid and manage them because of their impact on survival and length of ICU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Instituto Médico de Alta Tecnología IMAT Oncomedica, Montería, Colombia

    Agamenón Quintero, Jorge Racedo & Heinznel Negrete

Authors
  1. Agamenón Quintero
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  2. Jorge Racedo
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  3. Heinznel Negrete
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Correspondence to Jorge Racedo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer C Department of Critical Care, Houston, TX, USA

    Joseph L. Nates

  2. Department of Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer C Department of Critical Care, Houston, TX, USA

    Kristen J. Price

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Quintero, A., Racedo, J., Negrete, H. (2019). Electrolytic Abnormalities Related to Magnesium in Critically Ill Cancer Patients. In: Nates, J., Price, K. (eds) Oncologic Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74698-2_88-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74698-2_88-1

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