Dynamic observation of serum magnesium level during treatment of patients with chronic cor pulmonale and respiratory failure

: Serum magnesium (Mg) levels in 48 patients (486 person-time) with chronic cor pulmonale and respiratory failure were observed dynamically during treatment. Results showed a tendency towards hypomagnesemia in patients with acute exacerbation and in the early stage of treatment (1-10 d), but while only a few patients in the convalescence stage. The serum Mg level was found to be positively correlated with PaO2 (r = 0.146, P less than 0.05) and blood chlorine (Cl-) level (r = 0.236, P less than 0.01) and negatively correlated with PaCO2 (r = -0.012, P less than 0.05). All patients with hypomagnesemia had acid-base disorder. We found that the prognosis of patients with chronic cor pulmonale was closely related to hypomagnesemia. We also found that in order to cure patients with hypomagnesemia, combined treatment was necessary for long-term improvement of the general condition.