Relationship of bone and plasma magnesium in magnesium-deficient cirrhosis patients.

Total and ionized plasma Mg levels and cortical and trabecular bone Mg concentration were determined in five untreated nonalcoholic cirrhosis patients with ascites and edema. The high peripheral renin activity and serum aldosterone proved the existence of secondary aldosteronism in these patients. Total plasma Mg and trabecular bone Mg were within normal limits. A decreased absolute level and percentage of ionized plasma Mg were found without hypoalbuminemia, and cortical bone Mg concentration was decreased. Ionized plasma Mg concentration correlated closely with cortical bone Mg concentration when the levels of bone and plasma Mg were below normal.