A Comparative Study of Serum Magnesium in Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Bronchial Asthma

In the first half of the last century tuberculosis was the main focus of attention amongst all respiratory diseases. Bronchial asthma is a serious global health problem. The present study was carried out to estimate magnesium levels in serum in pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial asthma cases and to compare them with the serum magnesium levels of controls. This study was undertaken in 120 subjects, 40 diagnostic cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (group I), 40 diagnostic cases of bronchial asthma (group II), and 40 normal control groups (group III). Magnesium levels were analyzed from serum by spectrophotometer, using calmagite method. Our study shows a significant decrease (<.0001) serum magnesium levels in group I (pulmonary tuberculosis) and group II (bronchial asthma) cases as compared to group III (Control). Our study also reveals that the mean levels of serum magnesium are markedly lower in cases having far advanced disease (1.25±.080 meq/L) than in those with moderately advanced disease (1.37±.084 meq/L) or with minimal disease (1.50 meq/L). Pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial asthmatic patients have lower serum magnesium concentrations compared to healthy controls. This may be of use in future therapeutic management of pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial asthma. BISWAJIT DAS Asst. professor, Department of Biochemistry Rohilkhand Medical College, Bareilly