Letter to the Editor

Clinical Nutrition
journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/clnu
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2019.07.016
0261-5614/© 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.


Dear Editor,

We read with enthusiasm the article of Charlotte Bronte and Refeeding Syndrome by Alison and Lobo and concur this death was likely unavoidable without electrolyte evaluation and appropriate medical nutrition therapy [1]. But even today when a woman presents with hyperemesis gravidarum an important electrolyte is absent in the opening salvo of care: phosphorus. The current basic metabolic panel includes calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, BUN, creatine and glucose.

Phosphorus, the 5th most abundant mineral in the body, is a critical component of the life-sustaining ATP molecule (adenosine tri-phosphate), required by all cells of body and brain for energy metabolism. Research indicates 2e3% of hospitalized patients admit with hypophosphatemia, increasing to 28% in critical care units with profound consequences [2,3] (see Table 1).

Complications arisewhen malnourished persons are aggressively re-fed and experience “Refeeding Syndrome” or “Nutritional Recovery Syndrome,” first reported in prisoners and Holocaust survivors after WWII [4]. During starvation, insulin secretion decreases in response to reduced carbohydrate supply. The resultant fat and protein metabolism deplete intracellular electrolytes; in particular, phosphorus. With re-nourishment, the sudden shift to (renewed) carbohydrate metabolism stimulates insulin secretion, resulting in cellular uptake of electrolytes into new cells with a corresponding fall in serum electrolytes, including phosphorus, with lethal consequences [5]. Complications occur because phosphorus cannot be
incorporated into the ATPmolecule at a rate newtissues demand [3].

Evaluating serum phosphorus on admission and on-going monitoring of at-risk patients, particularly those receiving dextrose as part of rehydration fluids and appropriate nutritional intervention, may reduce metabolic complications, mortality and health care costs.

Table 1
Effects of phosphorus depletion.
Severity Serum phosphorus Symptoms
Moderate 1.5e2.2 mg/dL Respiratory muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, confusion
Severe <1.5 mg/dL Seizures, coma, cardiac failure, sudden death


References

  1. Alison SP, Lobo DN. The death of Charlotte Bronte from hyperemesis gravidarum and refeeding syndrome: a new perspective. Clin Nutr 2019 Feb 10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2019.01.027.
  2. Padelli M, Leven C, Sakka M, Plee-Gautier E, Carre JL. Causes, consequences and treatment of hypophosphatemia: a systematic review. Presse Med 2017 Nov;46(11):987e99 (in French).
  3. Canada TW, Lord LM. Chapter 7: fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base disorders. In: Mueller CM, editor. The A.S.P.E.N. Adult nutrition support core curriculum. 3rd ed. 2017. p. 113e37. Silver Springs, MD.
  4. Gomez F, Galvan RR, Munoz GC. Nutritional recovery syndrome: preliminary report. Pediatrics 1952;10(5):513e26.
  5. Majumdar S, Dada B. Refeeding syndrome: a serous and potentially lifethreatening complication of severe hyperemesis gravidarum. J Obstet Gynaecol 2010 May;30(4):416e7.
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