The relationship of serum calcium and magnesium levels with pre-eclampsia

ABSTRACT Background: Pre-eclampsia is defined as a triad of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema occurring after 20 weeks of gestation in a previously normotensive woman. Till now, the etiology has not been fully elucidated. Serum calcium and magnesium ions have been implicated in seizure disorders, which often complicate pre-eclampsia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship of serum calcium and magnesium levels with pre-eclampsia. Aims: We aimed to estimate the levels of serum calcium and magnesium and their relationship with pre-eclampsia. Settings and Design: It was a case–control study conducted in the Department of Physiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur, India, from July 2011 to November 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 normal pregnant women (control) and 60 diagnosed pre-eclamptic patients attending the antenatal outpatient department and also those admitted to the antenatal ward of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RIMS, Imphal were studied. Serum calcium and magnesium levels were estimated by photocolorimetry. Statistical analysis: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software was used. Mean and standard deviation were calculated. The P -value of <0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Serum calcium level in pre-eclampsia was 8.48 ± 0.94 mg/dL, and in control was 9.18 ± 0.86 mg/dL, and the P -value was 0.000. Serum magnesium level in pre-eclamptic was 1.94 ± 0.43 mEq/L, and in control was 1.87 ± 0.38 mEq/L, and P -value was 0.375. Conclusion: Serum calcium level was significantly reduced in pre-eclampsia and the serum magnesium level was higher in pre-eclampsia (not significant), which were comparable with the studies of other authors.