Which chemotherapy agent is most commonly associated with hypomagnesemia?

Which chemotherapy agent is most commonly associated with hypomagnesemia?

• A. Mitoxantrone
• B. Cisplatin
• C. Cyclophosphamide
• D. Vincristine

Answer: (B)

Cisplatin is well known for causing nephrotoxicity, which leads to renal magnesium wasting and, consequently, hypomagnesemia. The drug damages kidney tubules, reducing magnesium reabsorption and causing it to be lost in the urine. This makes low magnesium a common electrolyte disturbance with cisplatin therapy. The other drugs have different primary toxicities—mitoxantrone is more associated with myelosuppression and cardiotoxicity, cyclophosphamide with hemorrhagic cystitis and bone marrow suppression, and vincristine with neurotoxicity—so they are not typically linked to hypomagnesemia.

Cisplatin is well known for causing nephrotoxicity, which leads to renal magnesium wasting and, consequently, hypomagnesemia. The drug damages kidney tubules, reducing magnesium reabsorption and causing it to be lost in the urine. This makes low magnesium a common electrolyte disturbance with cisplatin therapy. The other drugs have different primary toxicities—mitoxantrone is more associated with myelosuppression and cardiotoxicity, cyclophosphamide with hemorrhagic cystitis and bone marrow suppression, and vincristine with neurotoxicity—so they are not typically linked to hypomagnesemia.