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. 2017 Aug 16:10:9-15.
doi: 10.2147/IBPC.S129106. eCollection 2017.

Serum magnesium and calcium in preeclampsia: a comparative study at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Ebenezer Owusu Darkwa  1 , Charles Antwi-Boasiako  2 , Robert Djagbletey  1 , Christian Owoo  1 , Samuel Obed  3 , Daniel Sottie  4
Affiliations

Serum magnesium and calcium in preeclampsia: a comparative study at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Ebenezer Owusu Darkwa et al. Integr Blood Press Control. .

Abstract

Background: A large percentage (16% of maternal mortality in developed countries, compared to 9% in developing countries), is due to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The etiology of preeclampsia remains unknown, with poorly understood pathophysiology. Magnesium and calcium play an important role in vascular smooth muscle function and therefore a possible role in the development of preeclampsia.

Aim: We aimed to compare serum magnesium and total calcium levels of preeclamptic and normal pregnant women at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

Patients and methods: A comparative cross-sectional study involving 30 normal pregnant and 30 preeclamptic women with >30 weeks gestation and aged 18-35 years, was conducted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Magnesium and calcium were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer.

Results: Mean serum magnesium and total calcium levels in preeclamptic women were 0.70±0.15 and 2.13±0.30 mmol/L, respectively. Mean serum magnesium and total calcium levels in normal pregnant women were 0.76±0.14 and 2.13±0.35 mmol/L, respectively. There was a statistically nonsignificant difference in serum magnesium and total calcium in preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women, with p-values of 0.092 and 0.972, respectively.

Conclusion: Serum magnesium and total calcium, therefore, seem not to differ in preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women in Ghana.

Keywords: Ghanaian women; electrolytes; hypertension; maternal deaths; pregnant.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean serum magnesium levels of preeclamptic and normal pregnant women.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between serum magnesium levels and mean arterial pressure in preeclamptic women.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean total serum calcium levels of preeclamptic and normal pregnant women. Note: Error bars indicate the confidence interval of the mean of serum calcium levels.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Correlation between total serum calcium levels and mean arterial pressure in preeclamptic women.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation between serum magnesium levels and total serum calcium levels in preeclamptic women.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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