Low Serum Magnesium in Preterm Labour

This study was designed to compare serum magnesium levelin women with preterm labour and with those who were interm labour.A case-control study was carried out in the department ofObstetrics and Gynaecology, Bangabandhu Sheikh MujibMedical University (BSMMU), Dhaka from July 2005 toJune 2007, to evaluate serum magnesium level in womenwith preterm labour (28-36 weeks) and compare them withthose who were in term labour (37-40 weeks). The totalnumber of cases was 160, of which 80 were cases and similarnumber were control.The study subjects were selected from inpatient departmentof Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BSMMU and Mother andChild Health Training Institute (MCHTI), Dhaka.Serum magnesium level was measured by taking 5 ml of bloodfrom women with term (control) and preterm labour (case).The basic characteristics, like age, parity and socioeconomicstatus did not show statistically any significant differencebetween control arid case groups, but showed significantdifference only in the body mass index between the twogroups. Mean (±SD) BMI in control and case groups were24.88±1.42 and 23.12±2.36 kg/m2 respectively.Mean (±SD) gestational age were 38.95±0.89 and33.03±1.83 weeks, respectively in control and case groups.The mean (±SD) serum magnesium levels were 2.02±0.20(range 1.70-2.4) and 1.65±0.19 (range 1.30-2.00) mg/dl,respectively, in control and case groups. ‘The difference washighly significant (p<0.001).DOI: 10.3329/jbcps.v28i2.5368J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2010; 28: 69-72