MAGNESIUM
STATUS AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN
El-Sayed ZA, Abdel
Baky A, Youssef MF, Mohamed S
Faculty of
Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Objective:
To
outline the possible role of magnesium (Mg) in the pathogenesis and
treatment of bronchial asthma.
Methods: Mg
concentration in serum (SMg), 24 hours urine sample (UMg) and
intracellularly in mononuclear cells (MMg) and erythrocytes (EMg) was
measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 27 persistent asthma
children during wheezy episodes. MgSO4 (50mg/kg, i.v. infusion)
was given to severely asthmatic children with reevaluation at the end of
infusion and 2-4 wks. later during steady state.
Results: Severe
asthma patients had significant lower SMg, intracellular and UMg compared
to controls. In moderate asthma, there was a deficiency in intracellular Mg
but SMg was comparable to controls possibly maintained by decreased renal
excretion (decreased Umg). Patients with mild asthma had significant
deficiency in EMg only. The
degree of Mg deficiency closely followed the grade of asthma. SMg and MMg
correlated negatively with respiratory rate and positively with peak
expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in severely asthmatic children. MgSO4
infusion resulted in clinical improvement and significant increase in PEFR
and in Mg indices.
Conclusion: Asthmatic
children suffer Mg deficiency, the degree of which increase with increasing
severity of asthma. Urinary and intracellular Mg proved more reliable than
SMg as indices of magnesium status. MgSO4 infusion is
efficacious as a bronchodilator in acute episodes.