Erythrocyte and mononuclear blood cell magnesium concentrations are normal in hypomagnesemic patients with chronic renal magnesium wasting.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the plasma, erythrocyte, and mononuclear blood cell (MBC) magnesium concentrations in patients with chronic, severe hypomagnesemia due to a chronic magnesium-wasting tubulopathy.

METHODOLOGY: Six patients with Bartter's syndrome and five patients with magnesium-wasting tubulopathy were compared with normal subjects. We determined magnesium in plasma, erythrocytes, and MBCs.

RESULTS

Patients with chronic magnesium-wasting tubulopathy had a significantly lower plasma magnesium concentration than controls, but erythrocyte magnesium concentration and MBC magnesium concentration and content did not differ significantly between patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

Two disorders with chronic magnesium-wasting tubulopathies are associated with a low plasma magnesium concentration but normal erythrocyte and MBC magnesium.