RESUMO
To describe the values of serum magnesium and to determine the frequency of low levels of serum magnesium in a Cameroonian hospital, a retrospective study of 1088 results of serum magnesium was carried out in the University Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé (Cameroon). Among the 1088 values, 1025 were normal (94, 20 %). The prevalence of low level of serum magnesium was 4,13%. The mean of the serum magnesium was 0, 81 +/- 0,10 mmol/L. The median was 0,81 mmol/L. Among the 63 abnormal values, 10 (15,87 %) was related to a possible renal insufficiency. Three high levels of calcemia were associated to high level of serum magnesium. A total of 1069 values of the serum magnesium was required at the same time as the calcemia (98,25%). A gaussian distribution of the values of serum magnesium was observed. In conclusion, the imbalance of serum magnesium is far from frequent in Cameroonian hospital and exceptionally related to an imbalance of the calcemia.
