MG++ CONCENTRATIONS IN PLASMA AND ERYTHROCYTES IN BORDERLINE HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Plasma and intracellular Mg++ measurements were performed in erythrocy tes of 25 untreated normotensive healthy subjects and 15 untreated bor derline hypertensive patients, Plasma and erythrocytic measurements we re performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy using a Video 12 appara tus of Thermo Electron Instrumentation Laboratory, Andover, USA. The r esults show that in patients with borderline hypertension total erythr ocyte Mg++ content is significantly lower (1.56 +/- 0.08 mmol/l, mean +/- SD) as compared to controls (1.79 +/- 0.16 mmol/l, p < 0.05), Afte r 4 weeks of therapy with physiological oral Mg++ supplementation of 5 00 mg Mg++/d, erythrocyte Mg++ content significantly increased in the borderline hypertensive group (1.77 +/- 0.19 mmol/l) (p < 0.05), In pl asma Mg++ concentrations there was no significant difference in the no rmotensive and borderline hypertensive group (0.88 +/- 0.14 versus 0.8 6 +/- 0.15 mmol/l). After Mg++ supplementation, 0.98 +/- 0.11 mmol Mg+/l in plasma of borderline hypertensive patients were measured. Furth ermore, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values of the borderline hypertensive group normalized after the oral Mg++ administration (bef ore therapy: 153.2 +/- 11.4/93.0 +/- 4.9) mmHg, after therapy: 130.6 /- 8.4/83.2 +/- 7.8 mmHg, p < 0.05), There was no correlation between plasma or erythrocyte Mg++ concentrations in the 2 groups and blood pr essure values. In conclusion, lowered total erythrocyte Mg++ concentra tions in a subgroup of borderline hypertensives may contribute to the development, of this disorder.