Calcium and magnesium content of skeletal muscle. Studies in subjects undergoing diagnostic testing for malignant...

Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents were measured and compared among three different malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) diagnostic groups. No difference was found among mean values for Ca2+ content, whereas Mg2+ content was greater in MHS muscle. Variance of measured values was unequal and greatest among MHS muscles, suggesting a possible abnormal distribution associated with MHS. Although more muscle fibres with Ca2+ less than or equal to 12 mumol g-1 were observed in MHS muscle, this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, non-parametric analysis showed that the population of Mg2+ values was significantly greater in the MHS muscle. This study suggests that the distribution of Ca2+ and Mg2+ values is different in MHS muscle as a result of unknown genetic factors associated with the disease.