EXTRACELLULAR AND INTRACELLULAR MAGNESIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN ASTHMATIC-PATIENTS

Magnesium deficiency is associated with increased contractility of smo oth muscle cells. Since contractility of bronchial smooth muscle is im portant in patients with asthma, magnesium deficiency could negatively influence the clinical condition. We wanted to assess whether magnesi um deficiency exists in patients with asthma. Extracellular (plasma) a nd intracellular (erythrocytes and mononuclear leucocytes) concentrati ons of magnesium were determined in 20 mildly symptomatic patients wit h asthma and compared to 20 healthy controls. In asthmatic patients, t he mean+/-SD magnesium level in plasma was 0.81+/-0.05 mmol.l-1, in er ythrocytes 0.20+/-0.02 fmol.cell-1, and in mononuclear leucocytes 5.10 +/-2.55 fmol.cell-1; these values did not differ significantly from th ose of the healthy controls: 0.79+/-0.06 mmol.l-1, 0.19+/-0.02 fmol.ce ll-1, and 4.61+/-1.75 fmol.cell-1, respectively. No evidence for the e xistence of a magnesium deficit needing chronic magnesium supplementat ion was, thus, found in these patients.