Serum Magnesium Level During Pregnancy

This observational study was conducted in the department of Physiology LUMHS Jamshoro with collaboration of GU-IV Liaquat U niversity Hospital Jamshoro from January 2008 to December 2008. The inclusion criteria of the study were pregnant women with 20-35 years of age, primigravida, had 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy and willing for follow-up. The questionnaire comprised of sections to elicit the information regarding the general bio-data of the patient as well as specific information. The informed consent was taken from all participants participated in the study and the grouping was made according to serum magnesium level, trimester of pregnancy and age of women. After taking detailed history, clinical examination and ultrasound examination, blood sample collected for serum Mg++ level and other routine tests and sent to laboratory for analysis. The data was analyzed in SPSS version 11.00. Total of 150 patients were selected in this study. The age of patients were from 21 to 35 years with mean + SD 25.8 + 3.29 in Group I and 30.1 + 4.36 in Group II (P = < 0.001). Group I of 75 (50%) were those pregnant women who had low serum magnesium (Hypomagnesemia) level less than 1.5mg/dl with mean + SD 1.16 + 0.22 while Group II of. 75 (50%) were those having magnesium level within normal range from 1.8 - 2.9mg/dl with mean + SD 1.94 + 0.30 (P = < 0.001). Out of 150 pregnant women 60 (40%) were in their 2nd trimester and 90(60%) in 3rd trimester. Out of 60 in 2nd trimester, 35(58.3%) having low serum magnesium level (below reference range of 1.8 mEq/ L), while remaining 25 (41.7%) had normal serum magnesium level. Out of 90 in 3rd trimester, 40 (44.4%) had low serum magnesium level while remaining had serum magnesium level within normal range of 1.8 -2.9 mg/dl with non-significant P value (0.13). The present study identified hypomagnesaemia in pregnant ladies.