title: Extracellular and intracellular magnesium concentrations in asthmatic patients.
abstract: Magnesium deficiency is associated with increased contractility of smooth muscle cells. Since contractility of bronchial smooth muscle is important in patients with asthma, magnesium deficiency could negatively influence the clinical condition. We wanted to assess whether magnesium deficiency exists in patients with asthma. Extracellular (plasma) and intracellular (erythrocytes and mononuclear leucocytes) concentrations of magnesium were determined in 20 mildly symptomatic patients with asthma and compared to 20 healthy controls. In asthmatic patients, the mean +/- SD magnesium level in plasma was 0.81 +/- 0.05 mmol.l-1, in erythrocytes 0.20 +/- 0.02 fmol.cell-1, and in mononuclear leucocytes 5.10 +/- 2.55 fmol.cell-1; these values did not differ significantly from those of the healthy controls: 0.79 +/- 0.06 mmol.l-1, 0.19 +/- 0.02 fmol.cell-1, and 4.61 +/- 1.75 fmol.cell-1, respectively. No evidence for the existence of a magnesium deficit needing chronic magnesium supplementation was, thus, found in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: de Valk
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Struyvenberg
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van Rijn
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Haalboom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreukniet
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lammers
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium