PLASMA AND ERYTHROCYTE MAGNESIUM IN THYROID DISEASE.

Abstract

Serial determinations of plasma and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations were made before and during therapy in 13 hyperthyroid and 12 hypothyroid patients. Plasma magnesium concentrations were initially subnormal in 7 hyperthyroid patients and returned to normal as a response to antithyroid therapy became manifest. In 6 normomagnesemic hyperthyroid patients, plasma magnesium concentrations also tended to increase with therapy. Six hypothyroid patients had supranormal plasma magnesium concentrations prior to therapy. These returned to normal with treatment in 5 patients, but one subject showed a persistent elevation of the plasma magnesium concentration despite a satisfactory response to therapy. A decrease in plasma magnesium concentrations also occurred in the 6 normomagnesemic hypothyroid patients. Pretreatment erythrocyte magnesium concentrations were subnormal in 6 hyperthyroid and one hypothyroid patient. The response of erythrocyte magnesium concentrations to therapy was unpredictable, and increase...