The acute phase response (APR) is characterized by proteolysis with decreased body cell mass, hyperglycemia, body water retention and renal dysfunction, which we hypothesised could affect magnesium serum levels. The aim of this study was to compare serum magnesium levels among hospitalized patients with or without APR. METHOD: All serum magnesium results (n=527) corresponding to a six-months period were searched at University Hospital mainframe. Relevant laboratorial and clinical details were also registered. All cases of diabetes mellitus, chronic renal insufficiency, or serum creatinine > 1.5mg/dl were excluded. APR was defined by the presence of fever plus severe trauma or infection plus leukopenia or leukocytosis. RESULTS: From a total of 214 patients, sixty-nine (32.2%) met the criteria for APR positivity (APR<FONT FACE="Symbol">Å</FONT>). Groups were paired for age, color, gender, diuretic use and edema presence. Hypomagnesemia was registered among 72% of cases, without statistical difference (p=0.06) among APR<FONT FACE="Symbol">Å</FONT> and APRtheta patients (63.8 vs 75.9%). Serum magnesium levels (median; range) were higher among APR<FONT FACE="Symbol">Å</FONT> cases, when compared to APRtheta ones: 1.75;1-3 vs 1.6;0.9-2.9m/dl, the same occurring with glycemia (115; 49-236 vs 99; 61-191mg/dl) and serum creatinine (mean ± SD): 0,8840±306 vs 0,803 ± 0,257mg/dl. Hypermagnesemia was more common among APR<FONT FACE="Symbol">Å</FONT> cases: 8.7 vs 2.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher magnesium serum levels seen in APR<FONT FACE="Symbol">Å</FONT>patients may be attributed to subclinical renal ischemia and possibly to increased glucose serum levels.
Acute phase response; Hypomagnesemia; Hyperglycemia
