25 Jul
Magnesium, along with potassium, is a major intracellular cation.Renal handling of magnesium is effected by the combination of filtration and reabsorption.
Causes of renal magnesium wasting include endocrine disorders (hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidism), congenital defects (Barter, Gitelman syndromes), exposure to drugs (diuretics,
cis-platinum, aminoglycoside antibiotics, calcineurin inhibitors). 24 hrs urinary magnesium is useful in assessing the cause of abnormal serum magnesium concentrations, determining adequacy of nutritional magnesium, computing urinary calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate supersaturation, and assessing kidney stone risk.