title: Serum ionized magnesium and calcium levels in adult patients with seizures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prior studies have been equivocal about whether or not serum levels of the divalent ions calcium and magnesium are altered during different types of seizures. Magnesium is a potential modulator of seizure activity because of its ability to antagonize the excitatory calcium influx through the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. We hypothesize that serum ionized levels of calcium (Ca(2+)) and magnesium (Mg(2+)) would be altered significantly during certain types of seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of seizure patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) were enrolled in this prospective study. Novel ion-selective electrodes were used to measure Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Data were reported as mean values+/-standard deviations. Group comparisons were analyzed by ANOVA with post-hoc testing using the Bonferroni, or the Fisher exact test, where appropriate, alpha = 0.05 (two-tailed).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine patients with seizure and 32 healthy racially matched controls were included in the study. Seizure patients had a significantly (p<0.001) lower mean Mg(2+), but not total serum Mg and a significantly (p<0.001) higher Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) ratio than that in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We were able to show significantly lower Mg(2+) and higher ionized Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) ratios in seizure patients compared with a racially matched control group.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New Yourk, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA. neprhon1@bellatlantic.net
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sinert
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Zehtabchi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Desai
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Peacock
authors: B T
authors: BT
authors: Altura
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Altura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D007477:Ions / Q000097:blood; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007477:Ions; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium