Talk:Hypomagnesemia

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nice work! Erich 12:38, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Definition of hypomagnesemia

I changed the definition of hypomagnesemia back again to low blood levels rather than total body magnesium. The word hypomagnesemia literally means low blood levels of magnesium. This can be indicative of total body magnesium depletion, but that doesn't change the definition. At least three medical dictionaries I consulted seem to agree on this definition. Also, most symptoms (neuromuscular and cardiovascular) are caused by a decreased level of magnesium in the blood, not a decreased amount of magnesium in the whole body. --WS 13:39, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

Technically you are correct, the word refers to bloodlevels. Yet practically magnesium bloodlevels are not related to symptoms (neurological effects are not the primary symptoms), nor even a lack of magnesium (deficiency). Please read the article as to why. Since hypomagnesemia is usually symptomatic as result of total body levels, I would prefer that to be included in the definition.--Nomen Nescio 15:13, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

Even if the symptoms are not directly related, that doesn't change the definition. Of course things can be explained later on, but you can't just change the definition of a word because you don't like it. (If you really want another definition, start the article total body magnesium depletion or something similar) --WS 15:37, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

Or probably better: Magnesium deficiency (medicine) (ICD10 code: E61.2). --WS 16:21, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

I agree with WS, and I've created a stub article at the subject he's suggested. But I do think that in the articles we should acknowledge that in many contexts the terms are used interchangably, even if there is a subtle distinction between them. --Arcadian 18:10, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

I agree we should adhere to the literal meaning. However, in the new stub it is suggested hypomagnesemia is lack of magnesium. My point is just that this is wrong. Hypomagnesemia can be present without magnesium deficiency and vice versa. Therefore they are not the same. Hypomagnesemia has no clinical significance, for practical reasons we use bloodlevels, but this is inherently subject to incorrect interpretation (see article). This should also be reflected by the new article. --Nomen Nescio 19:10, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

Would you mind fleshing Magnesium deficiency (medicine) out a bit to reflect that? --Arcadian 19:34, 29 October 2005 (UTC)