Serum calcium and serum magnesium in normal and preeclamptic pregnancy

The aims of this study were to measure serum levels of calcium and magnesium in preeclamptic pregnancies and to compare them with those in normal pregnancies. We collected venous serum samples from 40 preeclamptic pregnant women and 40 normal pregnant women. The blood samples were analyzed for calcium and magnesium, using a colorimetric analyzer. The data were analyzed using the Student's t-test, chi2-test or Fisher exact tests when appropriate. The serum calcium concentration in preeclamptic pregnant women is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women (9.0 +/- 0.4 mg/dl vs. 9.7 +/- 0.7 mg/dl, p < 0.0001). Like serum calcium, serum magnesium concentration in preeclamptic women is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women (0.77 +/- 0.08 mmol/l vs. 0.85 +/- 0.09 mmol/l, p = 0.001). This study shows that both serum calcium and serum magnesium levels in preeclamptic pregnant women are lower than in normal pregnant women. These findings support the hypothesis that hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia are possible etiologies of preeclampsia.