Critique of the Clinical Importance of Diuretic-Induced Hypokalemia and Elevated Cholesterol Levels

Abstract

To the Editor .—It is interesting that in the March issue of theArchivesyou have three articles that relate to magnesium deficiency, yet there was never a mention of it in any of them as part of the cause. The article on muscle cramps1 talked about using quinine, but oddly enough, not about checking to see if an occult magnesium deficiency was the basis for the muscle cramps. The same with the article on Raynaud's phenomenon. 2,3 Then there was an article regarding rapid correction of hypokalemia and again it was not mentioned that resistant hypokalemia can have as part of its cause an undetected magnesium deficiency. 4,5 Since there are many articles showing that there is no adequate test of magnesium status, the only definitive test is a loading test. 6-14 This and all of the references and discussion of all the effects that magnesium is responsible for