Relationship between the degree of intracellular magnesium deficiency and the frequency of chest pain in women with variant angina.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to clarify the relationship between the degree of intracellular magnesium deficiency and the frequency of anginal attacks in women with variant angina.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated the intracellular and extracellular magnesium status of twelve women with variant angina: group A (> or = 4 attacks/week, n = 5) and group B (< 4 attacks/week, n = 7). Magnesium levels were determined in serum, urine, and erythrocytes, and the 24-h magnesium retention rate was calculated by magnesium loading test.

RESULTS

Group A showed a higher 24-h magnesium retention rate (58.2 +/- 9.1% vs. 31.3 +/- 4.4%; p < 0.01) and a lower intracellular concentration of magnesium in erythrocytes than group B (3.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.0 +/- 0.8 fg/cell; p < 0.05), demonstrating the presence of magnesium deficiency in group A. The 24-h magnesium retention rate and intracellular concentrations of magnesium in erythrocytes correlated well with the activity of variant angina (r = 0.61, p < 0.01; and r = -0.74, p < 0.01, respectively) for these patients.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the degree of intracellular magnesium deficiency in women with variant angina is closely related to the frequency of chest pain.