Deep hypophosphatemia and severe head trauma.

The authors report the case of an 18-year-old man with polytrauma, who died at the third day of its accident from brain death and who presented during his stay in the intensive care unit, a deep hypophosphatemia. Two physiopathologic mechanisms were presumed : increase of renal losses and intracellular transfer of phosphorus. Consequences, as well as the indications and the therapeutic modalities of hypophosphatemia are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]