Assessment of serum calcium and serum magnesium amongst Preeclampsia and Normotensive Pregnant Women attending a Tertiary Care centre

Abstract

Background: One of the most frequent causes of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality is preeclampsia. The present study was conducted to assess serum calcium and serum magnesium in subjects with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia. 
Materials and Methods: 80 patients with a singleton pregnancy in the third trimester were divided into two groups of 40 each. Group I were subjects with blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mm Hg, and group II had normal, normotensive pregnant subjects (controls). The serum calcium and magnesium levels of the two groups were compared. Using the NM-BAPTA technique, the serum calcium was estimated. 
Results: The mean serum calcium in group I was 8.20 mg/dl, and in group II it was 8.96 mg/dl. The mean magnesium level in group I was 1.63 mg/dl in group I and 1.88 mg/dl in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). In subjects with SBP 140–149 mm Hg, the mean serum calcium and magnesium levels were found to be 8.9 mg/dl and 1.8 mg/dl, respectively. In subjects with SBP 150–159 mm Hg, the mean serum calcium and magnesium levels were 8.3 mg/dl and 1.8 mg/dl, respectively, and with >160 mm Hg, they were 8.1 mg/dl and 1.6 mg/dl, respectively. The systolic blood pressure and serum calcium show a negative correlation. The 
correlation between systolic blood pressure and serum magnesium shows a strong negative correlation and is significant (P = 0.05). In subjects with DBP 90–99 mm Hg, the mean serum calcium and magnesium levels were found to be 8.4 mg/dl and 1.8 mg/dl, respectively. In subjects with DBP 100–109 mm Hg, the mean serum calcium and magnesium levels were 8.7 mg/dl and 1.7 mg/dl, respectively, and with >110 mm Hg, they were 8.0 mg/dl and 1.6 mg/dl, respectively. The diastolic blood pressure and serum calcium show a negative correlation, which is statistically significant. The correlation between diastolic blood pressure and serum 
magnesium is statistically significant (P< 0.05). 
Conclusion: It is not plausible for hypocalcaemia or hypomagnesaemia to be modifiable factors in the development of pregnancy-related hypertension.