title: Serum and erythrocyte levels of magnesium in microcytosis: comparison between heterozygous beta-thalassemia and sideropenic anemia.
abstract: In thalassemia erythrocyte cation permeability is increased, but the increment in ATPase-dependent cation pumps maintains normal concentrations of Ca++, Na+ and K+. In this study we investigated erythrocyte concentrations of Mg++ in heterozygous beta-thalassemia and in microcytic sideropenic anemia. Twenty-five healthy controls, 40 heterozygous beta-thalassemics and 25 patients with sideropenic anemia were studied. Erythrocyte Mg++ was assayed either by atomic absorption or by standard laboratory methods. Erythrocyte Mg++ was significantly lower in the beta-thalassemia group than in the other two groups (p less than 0.001). Serum magnesium was significantly lower in sideropenic anemia patients than in beta-thalassemics and in controls (p less than 0.01), whereas these latter two groups showed similar values. Our results suggest that the increment in ATPase-dependent cation pumps is not sufficient to maintain normal erythrocyte Mg++ concentrations in heterozygous beta-thalassemia. In sideropenic anemia cation permeability is not increased, therefore erythrocyte Mg++ is normal. Low serum Mg++ levels in sideropenic anemia could be explained by a primary Mg++ deficit associated with sideropenia.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Medica, Università di Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abbasciano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vecchiatti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guglielmini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sartori
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D016623:Ion Pumps; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016623:Ion Pumps; D008274:Magnesium