Red cell magnesium concentration in cor pulmonale. Correlation with cardiopulmonary findings

Atomic absorption spectrometry was used for red cell (MgRC) and plasma Mg (MgPL) measurement (mEq/L) in 24 normal individuals (Nls), aged 42.16 +/- 16 years, and 44 carefully selected consecutive patients (pts), aged 60.68 +/- 10 years with cor pulmonale. The results showed the following: (1) normal MgPL (1.69 +/- 0.19) and MgRC (4.22 +/- 0.32) in Nls; (2) decreased MgpL (1.56 +/- 0.23) and MgRC (2.85 +/- 0.54) in pts; (3) decreased FEV1 percent (37.56 +/- 13.1) in pts; (4) increased RVIDd (1.73 +/- 0.31 cm/m2) of the pts by M-mode echo; and (5) coexistence of decreased MgRC (2.55 +/- 0.33) and ECG arrhythmias-RBBB in 17/44 Pts (38.6 percent). We conclude the following; (1) red cell Mg concentration was more significantly decreased (p < 0.001) than plasma Mg concentration (p < 0.01); (2) there was no significant correlation coefficient (r) between red cell and plasma Mg concentration of pts (p > 0.05); (3) there was significant statistical difference between decreased red cell Mg levels in pts with and without ECG arrhythmias-RBBB (p < 0.01); (4) significant r between decreased red cell Mg concentration and aRVIDd (r = -0.43, p < 0.01), beta FEV1 percent (r = 0.47, p < 0.01); and (5) decreased red cell Mg levels of unknown origin have never been reported previously in the literature. Subsequently, could Mg salt intake attenuate pulmonary dysfunction and right ventricular dilatation in pts with chronic cor pulmonale?