Plasma, intracellular and cell membrane Mg++ and Ca++ concentrations in preeclampsia.

Changes in intracellular Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations seem to be involved i n the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, whereas the role of cell membranes has not been studied in detail yet. To investigate the changes in Ca++ and Mg+ metabolism in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia plasma, intracellular and membrane Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations were determined in a clinical study a s compared to healthy subjects. Twenty-five controls, 18 untreated healthy pregnant and 16 nullipara preeclamptic women were investigated. Plasma, cel lular and membrane (erythrocytes) Ca++ and Mg++ contents were measured by a tomic adsorption spectroscopy. Plasma and intracellular Mg++ concentrations were significantly lower in the healthy pregnant group (0.61 +/- 0.10/1.38 +/- 0.22 mmol/l) and the preeclamptic group (0.63 +/- 0.14/1.05 +/- 0.18 m mol/l) as compared to controls (0.93 +/- 0.06/1.79 +/- 0.21 mmol/l, p < 0.0 01, respectively). In erythrocyte membranes Mg++ content was found signific antly lowered in the preeclamptic women as compared to healthy subjects (0. 27 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.13 mmol/g membrane protein, p < 0.001). In plasm a Ca++ concentrations there were significantly lower values in the preeclam ptic group (1.96 +/- 0.15 mmol/l) as compared to controls (2.33 +/- 0.14 mm ol/l) or healthy pregnant woman (2.20 +/- 0.10 mmol/l, p < 0.05, respective ly). Membranous Cati content was significantly increased in the preeclampti c group versus controls or healthy pregnant woman (1.23 +/- 0.36 vs. 0.83 /- 0.16 und 0.77 +/- 0.13 mu mol/g membrane protein, p < 0.001, respectivel y). In conclusion, a magnesium deficiency and a disturbed calcium metabolis m occur in preclampsia.