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. 1972 Jan 29;1(5795):273–276. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5795.273

Hypophosphataemia and Hyperphosphataemia in a Hospital Population

M G Betro, R W Pain
PMCID: PMC1787150  PMID: 5008477

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.

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Selected References

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