THE CONCENTRATION OF MAGNESIUM IN ERYTHROCYTES IN FEMALE-PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY RAYNAUDS-PHENOMENON - FLUCTUATION WITH THE TIME OF YEAR

The magnesium (Mg) concentration was measured in erythrocytes of 30 wo men with pronounced primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and of 33 age-m atched healthy control women. The measurements were made at three diff erent times, six months apart. The mean Mg concentration in the PRP gr oup and the control group differed significantly at each measurement. The values for the two groups were, respectively, 1.64 +/- 0.21 and 2. 02 +/- 0.21 mmol/L (P<0.001) in February, 1988; 2.16 +/- 0.21 and 1.85 +/- 0.21 mmol/L (P<0.001) in August, 1988; and 2.01 +/- 0.21 and 2.37 +/- 0.20 mmol/L (P<0.001) in January, 1989. The erythrocyte Mg level varied significantly with the time of year in both groups. In the PRP group the mean value was significantly higher in August than in the tw o winter months, but in the control group it was significantly lower i n August. The authors conclude that women with PRP have a significantl y lower magnesium concentration in erythrocytes during winter than the healthy controls and that this concentration varied with the season o f the year in both groups.