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Urinary magnesium excretion in steady-state sickle cell anaemia
A O Olukoga1, H O Adewoye, R T Erasmus
1Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
Acta Haematologica
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Patients with sickle cell anaemia exhibit low magnesium levels due to excessive renal magnesium excretion. This study investigated the link between urinary magnesium loss and hypomagnesemia in sickle cell anaemia patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Hematology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Sickle cell anaemia is associated with potential magnesium deficiency.
- Understanding the mechanisms behind this deficiency is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of renal magnesium excretion in the low magnesium status observed in sickle cell anaemia patients.
- To compare magnesium levels and renal handling between sickle cell anaemia patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Studied 25 sickle cell anaemia patients (steady state) and 25 age/sex-matched controls (haemoglobin genotype AA).
- Assessed magnesium clearance, excretion fraction, and excretion rates.
- Measured erythrocyte and plasma magnesium concentrations.
Main Results:
- Sickle cell anaemia patients showed enhanced magnesium clearance, excretion fraction, and excretion rates.
- Patients had significantly lower erythrocyte and plasma magnesium concentrations compared to controls.
- Urinary magnesium correlated positively with plasma magnesium and negatively with erythrocyte magnesium.
Conclusions:
- Increased urinary magnesium excretion, disproportionate to body stores, contributes to hypomagnesemia in sickle cell anaemia.
- Renal handling of magnesium plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of magnesium deficiency in these patients.