The characteristics of patients with hypermagnesemia who underwent emergency hemodialysis

AIM: This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of patients who presented with severe hypermagnesemia and subsequently underwent emergency hemodialysis. METHODS: We investigated the age, gender, complications, clinical symptoms, causal drugs, electrocardiogram findings, and laboratory data of 15 patients. RESULTS: Magnesium oxide had been administered in all cases and 14 patients were over 65 years old. The male : female ratio was 6:9. Chief complaints included a disturbance of consciousness, hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory failure. The median serum magnesium value before hemodialysis was 6.0 (3.7–18.6) mg/dL. The daily dosage of magnesium oxide was ≤ 2.0 g in 12 cases. The median serum creatinine value before hemodialysis was 5.39 (0.54–10.29) mg/dL. However, in two cases, the creatinine value was not elevated. Complications of acute kidney injury exacerbated the hypermagnesemia in nine cases. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that the serum magnesium value should be measured in older patients who are taking magnesium oxide and are showing signs and symptoms of a disturbance of consciousness, hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory failure of an uncertain etiology, even if the serum creatinine value is not elevated or the dosage of magnesium oxide is within recommended levels.