Lymphocytic and serum magnesium in older healthy and hypertensive subjects

To study the lymphocyte and serum magnesium in older patients with and without arterial hypertension. We studied the lymphocyte and serum Mg in 22 older patients, with diastolic blood pressure between 95 and 120 mmHg, not receiving drug treatment. A method of freezing produced total lysis of the cells. The mean lymphocyte Mg concentration in the older patients was 1.15 +/- 0.74 picomoles per 100 cells, significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than in the control group, that was 0.77 +/- 0.32 picomoles per 100 cells (lymphocyte Mg in older hypertensive patients/control = 1.49); there were no significant differences between groups with regard to serum Mg. Twelve older normotensive men studied also had lymphocyte Mg significantly higher than in the respective control group (lymphocyte Mg in older normotensive men/control = 1.70) and the serum Mg was also significantly higher than in the control group (1.63 +/- 0.12 versus 1.44 +/- 0.22 mEq/l. Since the high intracellular Mg concentration in the elderly patients may more accurately reflect the total body Mg status. We suggest to use Mg and Mg sparing diuretics in these patients, both hypertensive and normotensive, cautiously.