OBJECTIVE: To determine, if possible, whether magnesium
deficiency exists in children with asthma during acute attacks
and between exacerbations.
SETTING: Emergency Department Clinic and Outpatient
Pediatric Clinic of Jordan University of Science and Technology,
Irbid.
METHODS: A total of 174 known asthmatic children who
presented to the emergency department in acute attack (group 1)
and 94 asthmatic children who presented to outpatient clinics
for follow-up of asthma (group 2) had their serum magnesium
levels assayed and compared with 232 patients without asthma
(controls; group 3). Exclusion criteria were history of renal
disease, cardiac disease, malabsorption, diuretic use,
alcoholism, and pregnancy.
RESULTS: There were no differences between study groups,
although male patients had a slightly lower level of magnesium
than female patients.
CONCLUSION: After removing the confounder of sex, serum
magnesium levels in asthmatic children during acute attacks and
between exacerbations are not significantly different from those
of controls.
Institution
Department of Pediatrics, Jordan Universityof Science and
Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid, Jordan 22110. kakish@just.edu.jo
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