Hypophosphatemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally depleted level of phosphate in the blood. This can be caused when malnourished patients are fed a large amount of carbohydrates which have a high phosphorus demand (refeeding syndrome).

Causes

---

• alcohol abuse
• burns
• hepatic failure
• malabsorption
• metabolic acidosis
• osteomalacia
• respiratory alkalosis

Pathophysiology

---

Hypophosphatemia is caused by the following three mechanisms:

• Inadequate intake (uncommon, seen in refeeding after long-term low phosphate intake)
• Increased excretion (e.g. in hyperparathyroidism)
• Shift from extracellular to intracellular space (seen in treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, refeeding, short-term increases in cellular demand (eg, hungry bones syndrome) and acute respiratory alkalosis)

See also

---

• Hyperphosphatemia
• Hypophosphatasia

External links

---

• Tutorial - complications
• Refeeding Syndrome

Electrolyte disturbance