Hypomagnesaemia masquerading as hypoparathyroidism
Singh, R.; Bhat, M.H.; Bhansali, A.
Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 54: 411-412
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-5772 PMID: 16909743 Document Number: 600867
Magnesium deficiency is a common clinical problem. Dietary malabsorption and renal wasting are the commonest causes. Hypomagnesemia induces a state of functional hypoparathyroidism due to decreased secretion of parathormone (PTH) as well as resistance to its action. Contrary to typical autoimmune hypoparathyroidism, it is associated with decreased levels of serum phosphate. We report a patient who presented with hypocalcemic tetany associated with hypomagnesaemia due to renal wasting. Subsequently, he improved with magnesium supplementation of therapy.