An unusual cause of acute respiratory distress

A 54-year-old patient was admitted to our ICU for ketoacidosis with acute respiratory distress (ARD). The main and unusual cause of ARD was hypophosphataemia. Patient-related risk factors for chronic hypophosphataemia were malnutrition, chronic alcoholism, and diabetes mellitus. Correction of the metabolic acidosis by insulin therapy resulted in intracellular penetration of phosphate and potassium, causing severe hypophosphataemia and hypokaliaemia responsible for ARD. This case provides an opportunity for reviewing the main causes and consequences of hypophosphataemia, and for emphasising the value of monitoring serum phosphate levels and providing supplemental phosphate in ICU patients at risk for phosphate depletion.