Severe hypophosphatemia--a hospital survey

Acta Med Scand. 1983;214(3):221-3. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1983.tb08598.x.

Abstract

Eleven patients with a serum phosphate concentration below 0.3 mmol/l were detected in a prospective study of severe hypophosphatemia carried out over 7 weeks on 13 579 adult inpatients. For only one of these patients had a serum phosphate determination been requested by the ward, whereas the remaining cases of severe hypophosphatemia were detected as a result of the study. The most common cause of unexpected severe hypophosphatemia was chronic alcoholism.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphates / blood*
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Phosphates