Hypomagnesemia and Hypocalcemia in Mycosis Fungoides: A Retrospective Case Series

Abstract

The most common variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) is mycosis fungoides (MF), a malignant proliferation of atypical CD4 + CD45Ro + T-cells that initially proliferate in the skin and later invades lymph nodes and other organs including the blood (Sezary syndrome). The pathogenesis of CTCL is largely unknown. We present definitive data showing a correlation between degree and prevalence of hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia and clinical stage of MF. Hypomagnesemia was present in 22.2% of MF patients with early stage (n = 27), 38.5% of intermediate stage (n = 13), and 67.5% of advanced stage disease (n = 40). Hypocalcemia was present in 8.3% of MF patients with early stage (n = 24), 54.5% with intermediate stage (n = 11), and 61.0% with advanced stage disease (n = 41). The odds ratios for having hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia in patients with stage II or higher MF compared with stage I patients were 5.33 and 16.24, respectively. Hypomagnesemia has been associated with immune function abnormalities including the development of T-cell leukemia–lymphoma in rats. We hypothesize that the hypomagnesemia may play a role in the progression or pathogenesis of MF or the Sezary syndrome (SS). This retrospective case series is the first study ever to report a relationship between serum cations and CTCL in humans.