IONIZED AND TOTAL MAGNESIUM LEVEL IN BLOOD-SERUM AND PLASMA OF HEALTHY AND ILL ADULTS

Ionized magnesium was measured potentiometrically using a clinical ana lyzer MICROLYTE 6 (KONE, Finland). Total magnesium was measured colori metrically. Ionized magnesium (iMg) concentration changes with pH were made to observe the accuracy of the results if they were not recalcul ated to the actual pH of blood or recalculated with some uncertainty i n parameters. The dependence of iMg and iCa on heparin (used as antico agulant in plasma samples) was made. Less than 40 units per 1 mL of bl ood decreased the concentration of iMg and iCa less than 1.5%. The ran ge of iMg and total Mg in serum and plasma of healthy and ill adults ( short bowel syndrome, myocardial infarct) was investigated and compare d. in both illnesses, the concentration of ionized and/or total magnes ium is significantly different from the range of healthy people. The r ange of iMg and total Mg as well as the percentage of iMg against tota l Mg seem to be specific for a given illness.