[Hypophosphatemia during parenteral nutrition of patients with renal insufficiency (author's transl)].

Hypophosphatemia is a much commoner condition than generally recognized from investigations on this subject so far. Hypophosphatemia may cause ill-defined disturbances in the course of illness in patients with renal insufficiency. On the basis of our results we recommend the addition of 5--10 mmol phosphate (155--310 mg phosphorus) per 1000 kcal. of the nutrient solution right from the start of parenteral nutrition in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. The phosphate dosage must be further increased, at least temporarily, in hypophosphatemic patients with acute renal insufficiency. Serum phosphate determination should be obligatory in patients with renal insufficiency at the time when the patient is first seen. It should also be performed at least every second day during the first week of parenteral nutrition. Thereafter, the determination of serum phosphate twice weekly should suffice to control the dosage of phosphate required by the patient.