Mononuclear cell magnesium content remains unchanged in various hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Serum magnesium levels, as well as magnesium content of red blood cells and peripheral mononuclear cells, were examined in 31 pregnant women in their third trimester. Ten were preeclamptic; chronic hypertension was found in 10, and 11 were normotensive. Magnesium serum levels were 1.2 +/- 0.1, 1.2 +/- 0.1 and 1.3 +/- 0.1 mEq/l in the normotensives, chronic hypertensives and preeclamptics, respectively. Red blood cell magnesium concentration was 3.4 +/- 0.4, 3.7 +/- 0.7 and 3.5 +/- 0.5 mEq/l, and mononuclear magnesium content was 37.9 +/- 30.6, 27.6 +/- 15.9 and 30.2 +/- 25.7 fg/cell in the same groups, respectively. These changes were not statistically significant. The results do not support the hypothesis that magnesium deficiency is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.