Urinary magnesium remains a useful guide
to the magnesium status of the patient. Magnesium depleted patients, provided
they are not on diuretics or other nephro-toxic agents, will excrete almost
no magnesium in their urine. Magnesium depletion remains a significant
clinical risk issue for vulnerable groups of patients. I would recommend
that if it is not being requested, even in nutritionally compromised patients,
that an educational program be introduced to emphasise the essential role
of magnesium in the maintenance of electrolyte balance (perhaps you would
save time and money by reducing the amount of unnecessary potassium alerts!)
Regards,
Michael Ryan
To say the least, our urine magnesium method is very
non-
robust and difficult to control well.As we never receive any
requests,even in nutritionally supported patients,I wonder
whether there is any value in retaining this assay.Does
anyone else NOT offer urine magnesiums or have any strong
views on the subject?
Phil Wills QEH Woolwich.
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