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Hypophosphataemia and Hyperphosphataemia in a Hospital Population

Br Med J 1972; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5795.273 (Published 29 January 1972) Cite this as: Br Med J 1972;1:273
  1. M. G. Betro,
  2. R. W. Pain

    Abstract

    One hundred cases of hypophosphataemia (≤ 2·0 mg/100 ml) and 84 cases of hyperphosphataemia (≥ 5·0 mg/100 ml) occurring in a hospital population were studied in order to determine the cause of the abnormality. Examples of hyperphosphataemia due to renal failure were excluded from the study.

    A low serum phosphorus concentration was most frequently due to intravenous administration of carbohydrate, usually glucose, which accounted for 40% of cases. The next commonest cause was vomiting (12%). No obvious explanation could be found in 26% of cases, but in most of these factors were present which are known to affect phosphorus metabolism.

    No one cause of hyperphosphataemia was outstanding in frequency and in over 50% of cases no definite explanation for the abnormality could be found.