title: Plasma and membrane Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations in normal pregnancy and in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Changes in intracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, whereas the role of cell membranes has not been studied in detail yet. To investigate the changes in Ca2+ and Mg2+ metabolism in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, plasma and membrane Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations were determined in a clinical study as compared to healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 healthy female subjects, 22 untreated healthy pregnant and 20 preeclamptic women were investigated. In each patient, plasma and membrane Ca2+ and Mg2+ content were measured. Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Erythrocyte membranes were chosen for membranous Ca2+ and Mg2+ determination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma Mg2+ concentrations were significantly lowered in the healthy pregnant group and the preeclamptic group as compared to controls (p < 0.0001). In erythrocyte membranes, Mg2+ content was found significantly decreased in the preeclamptic women as compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). In plasma Ca2+ concentrations there was a significant decrease in the preeclamptic group as compared to controls or healthy pregnant women (p < 0.05). Membranous Ca2+ content was significantly increased in the preeclamptic group versus controls or healthy pregnant women (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lowered plasma and membrane Mg2+ concentrations in preeclampsia may contribute to the development of hypertension in pregnancy. Additionally, a disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis is observed in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Policlinic, University of Münster, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kisters
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Körner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Louwen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Witteler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackisch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zidek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Westermann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barenbrock
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rahn
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium