Research Interest

Dr. Phuong Chi Pham’s major clinical research interest involves the delineation of potentially significant clinical factors that can lead a more rapid decline of kidney function in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.  In particular, she has been focusing her research on the effect of hypomagnesemia on kidney function in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.  Recently, she has demonstrated a significant association between hypomagnesemia and a more rapid decline in glomerular filtration rates and higher incidence ofend-stage kidney disease in diabetic type 2 patients compared to those with magnesium levels in the normal to upper normal range.  She further observed that the potential link between hypomagnesemia and worse renal outcomes may occur via hypocalcemia, presumably via hypocalcemia-induced alterations inintraglomerular hemodynamic.  She is currently studying the roleof magnesium in various disease states known to be associated with hypomagnesemia.  She is also collaborating with the endocrinology service to study the effect of magnesium supplementation on kidney function and bone mineral biomarkers in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.