Hypophosphatemia
| Hypophosphatemia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Low blood phosphate, phosphate deficiency, hypophosphataemia |
| Phosphate group chemical structure | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Weakness, trouble breathing, loss of appetite[1] |
| Complications | Seizures, coma, rhabdomyolysis, softening of the bones[1] |
| Causes | Alcohol use disorder, refeeding in those with malnutrition, hyperventilation, diabetic ketoacidosis, burns, certain medications[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Blood phosphate < 0.81 mmol/L (2.5 mg/dL)[1] |
| Treatment | Based on the underlying cause, phosphate[1][2] |
| Frequency | 2% (people in hospital)[1] |
Hypophosphatemia is an electrolyte disorder in which there is a low level of phosphate in the blood.[1] Symptoms may include weakness, trouble breathing, and loss of appetite.[1] Complications may include seizures, coma, rhabdomyolysis, or softening of the bones.[1]
Nutritional phosphate deficiency is exceedingly rare as phosphate is abundant in most types of foods and is readily passively absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; hypophosphatemia is thus typically a result of diseases or an adverse effect of medical treatments.[3] Causes include alcohol use disorder, refeeding in those with malnutrition, recovery from diabetic ketoacidosis, burns, hyperventilation, and certain medications.[1] It may also occur in the setting of hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, and Cushing syndrome.[1]
It is diagnosed based on a blood phosphate concentration of less than 0.81 mmol/L (2.5 mg/dL).[1] When levels are below 0.32 mmol/L (1.0 mg/dL) it is deemed to be severe.[2]
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.[1] Phosphate may be given by mouth or by injection into a vein.[1] Hypophosphatemia occurs in about 2% of people within hospital and 70% of people in the intensive care unit (ICU).[1][4]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Hypophosphatemia". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ a b Adams, James G. (2012). Emergency Medicine: Clinical Essentials (Expert Consult - Online and Print). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1416. ISBN 978-1455733941.
- ^ Williams Textbook of Endocrinology (15th ed.). Elsevier. 2024. pp. 1282–1283. ISBN 9780323933476.
- ^ Yunen, Jose R. (2012). The 5-Minute ICU Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 152. ISBN 9781451180534.